Abstract

Dendritic cells (DC) are professional antigen presenting cells that maintain immune tolerance to self-antigens by controlling the pathogenicity of autoreactive T cells, and a lack of immune tolerance against self-antigens results in autoimmune diseases. Therefore, DCs play an essential role in the induction and/or maintenance of autoimmunity. In the present review, we focus on the role of DCs in the pathogenesis of autoimmune liver diseases. In addition, recent developments in DC-based immunotherapy using regulatory (tolerogenic) DCs in autoimmune diseases will be discussed.

Keywords: Autoimmune liver disease, dendritic cells, tolerance, antigen presenting cells, autoimmune diseases, immunotherapy, autoimmune hepatitis, biliary cirrhosis, IgG4-Related Sclerosing Cholangitis, Regulatory dendritic cells