Processing and Presentation of Protein and Parasite-Derived Antigens by 4F7+ Dendritic Cells

The dendritic cell (DC), a trace component of splenocytes is the principal cell type required for a primary mixed lymphocyte reaction.1 Splenic DC are described as antigen presenting cells (APC) capable to generate immunogenic fragments of intact protein antigens for presentation to MHC class II restricted T cells,2 in contrast to former findings.3 Langerhans cells (LC) as potent APC are members of the dendritic cell lineage forming a system of potent APC, first identified by Steinman and Conn.4 Importanly Schuler and Steinman have subsequently presented experimental evidence suggesting that LC represent immature DC.3 During infectious diseases caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania LC…