Lung dendritic cell migration.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are crucial in regulating the immune response by bridging innate and adaptive immunity. DCs are constantly migrating from the blood to the lungs and from the lungs to the draining lymph nodes. How DCs populate the lung in the absence of inflammation and how they are recruited there during inflammation remain unclear. Since DCs play a central role in immune responses, both under steady-state and inflammatory conditions, detailed characterization of their migratory behavior may be essential for the development of future therapeutic strategies.