A Discrete Subset of Monocyte-Derived Cells among Typical Conventional Type 2 Dendritic Cells Can Efficiently Cross-Present

Abstract

Summary: Dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages (Mϕs) share close developmental pathways and functional features, leading to blurring of the boundaries between these two cell lineages. However, a deeper understanding of DC and Mϕ ontogeny and more refined phenotypic and functional characterizations have helped to delineate pre-DC-derived conventional DCs (cDCs), including cDC1s and cDC2s, from monocyte-derived Mϕs. Here, we further refine DC/Mϕ cell classification and report that classically defined cDC2s contain a discrete population of monocyte-derived migratory antigen-presenting cells with Mϕ phenotype but functional DC features, including cross-presentation. : Sheng et al. describe a distinct subset of migratory antigen-presenting cells that share features characteristic of both cDC2s and macrophages. Their numbers are markedly increased in tumors, where they are able to cross-present tumor antigens, thus representing an important addition to the arsenal of known antigen-presenting cells. Keywords: dendritic cells, antigen-presenting cell, monocyte derived, cross-priming, migration, tumor microenvironment, macrophages, hybrid