Dendritic cells in tolerance and autoimmune diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is a T cell mediated autoimmune disease where both central and peripheral mechanisms effect T cell tolerance induction. Dendritic cells (DCs) are key regulators of innate and adaptive immune responses. They significantly contribute to central and peripheral T cell tolerance and, following maturation, induce the activation and differentiation of naive T cells into effector and memory cells. DCs are also major actors in inflammation. Given these multiple effects on immune responses, DCs are suspected to contribute to autoimmune diseases. In this review we discuss how some specific features of DC may contribute to type 1 diabetes.