Dendritic cells as a tool to induce anergic and regulatory T cells

The induction of antigen-specific T-cell tolerance in the thymus and its ma intenance in the periphery is crucial for the prevention of autoimmunity. A s well as their stimulatory functions, there is growing evidence that dendr itic cells, acting as professional antigen-presenting cells, also maintain and regulate T-cell tolerance in the periphery. This control function is ex erted by certain maturation stages and subsets of different ontogeny, and c an be influenced by immunomodulatory agents. What is the current state of k nowledge of the 'immunoregulatory' properties of dendritic cells and how mi ght tolerance-inducing dendritic cells be relevant to therapeutic applicati ons in humans?.