Overview of bovine dendritic cells

Abstract

This article is an overview of dendritic cells (DCs) in cattle. The understanding of the immune system and the role of DCs in many ways can contribute to their use in the prevention and treatment of many infectious and autoimmune diseases. DCs are bone marrow-derived cells that function as professional antigen presenting cells. They act as messengers between the innate and the adaptive immune systems. The morphology of DCs results in a very large surface to volume ratio. That is, the DCs have a very large surface area compared to the overall cell volume. Currently, most dendritic cells research occurs in the human and mice. There is a lack of studies in cattle describing DCs. DCs survey the body and collect information relevant to the immune system. They are then able to instruct and direct the adaptive arms to respond to challenges.