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1: Semin Immunol. 2009 Feb;21(1):22-7. Epub 2008 Sep 7.Click here to read Links

Retinoic acid-dependent regulation of immune responses by dendritic cells and macrophages.

Manicassamy S, Pulendran B.

Emory Vaccine Center & Yerkes National Primate Research Center, 954 Gatewood Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.

Dendritic cells (DCs) control the strength and quality of antigen-specific T and B cell responses. Recent advances point to a novel mechanism, in which metabolism of vitamin A into retinoic acid (RA) in DCs, regulate critical parameters of lymphocyte differentiation. First, RA enhances the induction of Foxp3(+) T regulatory cells by DCs. Thus, specific subsets of intestinal DCs and macrophages constitutively express RA synthesizing enzymes, and induce T regulatory cells. In addition, RA programs DCs to imprint mucosal homing properties on activated T and B cells, and enhanced induction of immunoglobulin-A (IgA) by B cells. Here, we review these recent advances, in the context of the pleiotropic effects of RA in regulating diverse biological processes.

PMID: 18778953 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

PMCID: PMC2642591 [Available on 2010/02/01]

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