Dissecting dendritic cell biology and the signals that control lymphocyte activation.

Dendritic cells (DC) are the bridge between innate and adaptive immunity. They are responsible for the uptake and sensing of potentially harmfull pathogens. The recognition of pathogens sarts a cascade of events that will transform the DC from an immature to a mature stage. It is this latter stage that is detremintal for the induction of T cell immunity or tolerance. In this project, we wish to get a better insight in the factors that determine whether a given DC will induce immunity or tolerance.