Dendritic Cells in Human Renal Inflammation - Part II

Dendritic cells (DCs) are bone marrow-derived professional
antigen-presenting cells that act as master regulators of acquired
and innate immune responses. Here, we review the available
information on their role in human renal inflammation. In the 1980s
and early 1990s, major histocompatibility complex class II
antigen-(HLA-DR) positive DCs were first described in normal human
kidneys and in the interstitium of kidneys from patients with
glomerulonephritis. Several DC subtypes were subsequently
distinguished based on their expression of CD1c/BDCA-1,
CD141/BDCA-3 and CD209/DC-SIGN (in combination with HLA-DR). These
cells were almost exclusively found in the tubulointerstitium, with
increased numbers seen during glomerulonephritis. It appears that
the human renal tubulointerstitium harbors different DC types which
allow the collection of both exogenous as well as endogenous
antigens. Plasmacytoid DCs have a plasma cell-like morphology and
were commonly found within nodular tubulointerstitial infiltrates.
Follicular DCs are rarely seen, but show a predominant localization
in organized infiltrates. CD207/langerin is a marker for Langerhans
cells. Langerin-positive cells have been found in association with
the collecting ducts and urothelium. A functional characterization
of these subtypes has been hampered by the difficulty of obtaining
samples for analysis. However, these studies are clearly required
to define the role of DCs and DC subsets in the pathophysiology of
renal disease. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel