Dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the sentinels of the immune system and play a critical role in stimulating immune responses against pathogens and maintaining immune homeostasis to harmless antigens. They can be found in all lymphoid and most non-lymphoid tissues, including mucosal surfaces, like the lung and the gut, where intricate networks of DCs are situated to sense potential harmful exposures. As such, DCs are among the first cells to come into contact with food bioactives in the gastrointestinal tract and thus are instrumental in shaping the immune system’s response to such exposures. Here we provide an overview of DC characteristics, with the emphasis on DCs in the mucosal immune system, and discuss in vitro/ex vivo DC culture settings that can be applied for in vitro testing of (food) compounds.