▪ Abstract Dendritic cells (DCs) have several functions in innate and adaptive immunity. In
addition, there is increasing evidence that DCs in situ induce antigen-specific
unresponsiveness or tolerance in central lymphoid organs and in the periphery. In the
thymus DCs generate tolerance by deleting self-reactive T cells. In peripheral lymphoid
organs DCs also induce tolerance to antigens captured by receptors that mediate efficient
uptake of proteins and dying cells. Uptake by these receptors leads to the constitutive …