Dendritic Cells, Sem #2

by Eye Of Science

Title

Dendritic Cells, Sem #2

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Eye Of Science

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Photograph - Photograph

Description

Scanning electron micrograph of dendritic cells (Latin dendriticus = "branched"). These are cells of the immune system, which, depending on the type, develop either from monocytes or from precursors of the B and T cells. As part of leukapheresis, these monocytes were collected and cultured with GM-CSF and interleukin 4, driving conversion to immature dendritic cells (6 days culture). On the sixth day, the cells then received a maturation cocktail (containing so-called danger signals, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6 and prostaglandin E2) and became mature dendritic cells, invading other immune cells, e.g. cytotoxic T cells, to present specific antigens (in this case tumor antigens) and to activate the cells in sequence. Dendritic cells together with the monocytes, macrophages and B lymphocytes belong to the so-called "professional" antigen-presenting cells of the immune system. Dendritic cells can be used to vaccinate against existing cancerous tumors. In this case, isolated dendritic cells are loaded with tumor antigens, stimulated by cytokines and infused back into the patient.Magnification is 5000x at 15x15cm image size.

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May 19th, 2021

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