inaugural – dissertation - Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg

Summary
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bacterial products. Indeed, it could be shown that in vivo DC were required for NK cell
activation as in the absence of DC only partial NK activation was achieved.
In further studies we investigated interactions between T cells and DC. In lymphoid
organs, T cells continuously scan DC for foreign antigen. So far, it was assumed that
the frequent contacts observed between T cells and DC in the absence of foreign
antigen are without consequence. However, we observed that T cells from DC depleted
mice were refractory to subsequent stimulation by foreign antigen. Thus, naive T
lymphocytes require continuous contact and tonic stimulation by DC in order to
respond against foreign antigen.
Due to the fact that DC can be efficiently depleted in CD11c.DOG mice DC over a long
period of time, this mouse strain is now being used in many international laboratories
as the preferred model for DC research.
Summary