What is the role of dendritic cells in the immune system?

The role of dendritic cells in the immune system is primarily to process and present antigens to T cells. Dendritic cells are pivotal in initiating and modulating the adaptive immune response. When they encounter pathogens, dendritic cells capture and process these antigens, which are then presented on their surface using major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. This interaction with T cells is crucial for T cell activation and proliferation.

Once activated, T cells can differentiate into various subsets, such as helper T cells and cytotoxic T cells, which carry out different functions in the immune response. The efficiency of dendritic cells in antigen presentation makes them essential for establishing immunity and shaping the adaptive immune response.

In contrast, while some other immune cells, such as macrophages and neutrophils, destroy pathogens directly, dendritic cells do not perform this function themselves. They primarily serve as antigen-presenting cells to alert T cells of the presence of a pathogen. Similarly, dendritic cells do not produce antibodies; this function is carried out by B cells. Finally, while blood flow regulation can be an aspect of the overall immune response, it is not a primary role of dendritic cells, which are more directly involved in communication between innate and adaptive immunity