Transfer of antigen between migrating and lymph node-resident DCs in peripheral T-cell tolerance and immunity.

Dendritic cells (DCs) consist of a heterogeneous collection of subsets, many with unique phenotypic and functional characteristics. Although certain subsets migrate from peripheral non-lymphoid tissues, there is evidence that antigen presentation can extend to DCs that permanently reside within the lymph node. This Opinion describes this finding in the context of antigen transfer between migrating and lymphoid-resident DCs in cases of T-cell priming and tolerance induction.