/ News, Research
A research team led by Prof. Roxane Tussiwand elucidated the cellular origin of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs).
Their findings, which were recently published in the journal Nature Immunology solve a long standing question about the heterogeneity of pDCs. Using expression profiling of single cells, they identified key transcription factors that are required for the development and maintenance of pDC subsets and find that while most pDC are lymphoid derived, about 10% are from the myeloid lineage. As pDCs are not only involved in the protection against viral infections but have also been linked to the development of autoimmune diseases, their findings will be crucial in understanding the pathogenesis of autoimmunity.
Commentary by Prof. Markus G. Manz (USZ)