Dendritic Cell Protocols (2001) (Methods in Molecular Medicine #64)

By: Stephen P. Robinson, Andrew J. Stagg and Stella C. Knight

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Synopsis: Dendritic Cell Protocols provides chapter and verse for many useful practical approaches to the art of studying dendritic cells. The book gives information on the usual techniques for derivation of human dendritic cells from precursor stem cells, such as monocytes. In addition it provides data on the difficult tasks of isolating dendritic cells directly from different tissues; whether dendritic cells from precursor cells or from tissues of mouse or human are required, this book contributes practical information. The last section of the book is devoted to functional aspects of dendritic cells ranging from inf- mation relevant to cell migration to antigen uptake and T cell stimulation. But what is a dendritic cell? The explosion of studies on this cell type over the last few years is breathtaking. We now have so-called “myeloid” and “plas- cytoid” dendritic cells; are they of separate lineages or are they related? There are claims that dendritic cells can be derived from B cells and from granulocytes, as well as from “monocytes. ” Lymphocytes can be switched on or off by dendritic cells. Dendritic cells can preferentially cause Th1 or Th2 responses or some may stimulate B cells directly. When there is so much scope for exploring these new developments, it is particularly important that the data that are established and the practical basis for this work are clearly available, a task that this book fulfils.