Dendritic cells (DCs) have been receiving a lot of attention recently. In t
his article by Ken Shortman and colleagues, the complex nature of these cel
ls is discussed. There appear to be many subpopulations of DCs,and they det
ail the differences between DCs isolated from the thymus, lymph nodes, and
spleen. DC subpopulations may differ in origin, and they may direct differe
nt T-cell responses.