Homeostatic control of dendritic cell numbers and differentiation.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are a diverse family of cells that play a crucial role in linking our innate and adaptive immune system to initiate adequate T-cell responses. They respond to pathogens by triggering the appropriate adaptive immune response that is required to clear invaders while balancing the need to limit tissue damage as a result of inflammation. Perturbation in DC regulation results in abnormal T-cell homeostasis, leading to development of autoimmune diseases and aberrant responses to pathogens. In recent years, it has become clear that the DC family is more complex than initially thought in terms of their identification, homeostasis and functions. In this review, we discuss recent findings that improve our understanding of development, and functional specializations of conventional and plasmacytoid DCs.