Dendritic Cells

Dendritic cells are specialized antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that play a key role in the immune system. Their main function is to capture and process foreign substances (antigens) and present them to T cells to initiate an immune response. Dendritic cells act as messengers between the innate and adaptive immune systems by:

• Detecting pathogens: They recognize and engulf pathogens like bacteria and viruses.
• Activating T cells: After processing the antigens, dendritic cells travel to lymph nodes, where they present the antigens to T cells, helping to kickstart a targeted immune response.

Dendritic cells are crucial for triggering immune responses and maintaining immune tolerance to prevent overreaction to non-harmful substances.