Abstract :
One type of phagocytic antigen-presenting cell (APC) — the dendritic cell (DC) — may have specialized functions during infection with the bacterium Salmonella, including a possible role in transporting Salmonella across the intestinal barrier. In addition, changes in the number, localization and cytokine production of CD8α+, CD8α−CD4+ and CD8α−CD4− DC subsets occur during infection. DCs function in stimulating bacteria-specific T cells by direct presentation of Salmonella antigens and as bystander APCs. Studying the function of DCs during Salmonella infection provides insight into the capacity of these sophisticated APCs, which are a key link between innate and adaptive immunity, to initiate and modulate the immune response to a bacterial infection.
