Dendritic cells in intestinal homeostasis and disease.

DCs are specialized APCs that orchestrate innate and adaptive immune responses. The intestinal
mucosa contains numerous DCs, which induce either protective immunity to infectious agents or
tolerance to innocuous antigens, including food and commensal bacteria. Several subsets of muco-
sal DCs have been described that display unique functions, dictated in part by the local microen-
vironment. In this review, we summarize the distinct subtypes of DCs and their distribution in the
gut; examine how DC dysfunction contributes to intestinal disease development, including inflam-
matory bowel disease and celiac disease; and discuss manipulation of DCs for therapy.