Proteases, natural protease inhibitors and activation of the machinery of antigen presentation in dendritic cells
Pierre, P.
Pathologie-Biologie 49(6): 494-495
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0369-8114 PMID: 11484610 Document Number: 538084
Dendritic cells play a central role in the immune response due to their exceptionally strong capacity for presenting antigens to naive T lymphocytes. Recent evidences have demonstrated that dendritic cells (DCs) exhibit a remarkable pattern of differentiation (maturation) that is accompanied by striking changes in morphology, organization and function. The hallmark of DC maturation is the major reorganization of the MHC class II molecule intracellular transport which is in part regulated by endosomal proteases activation. The central role of the endosomal proteases in generating antigenic peptides and controlling MHC class II traffic clearly defines these enzymes as an important area of investigation.