Mechanisms by which chronic ethanol feeding limits the ability of dendritic cells to stimulate T cell proliferation

摘要

BackgroundAs initiators of immune responses, dendritic cells (DCs) are required for antigen (Ag) specific activation of naïve T cells in the defense against infectious agents. The increased susceptibility to and severity of infection seen in chronic alcoholics could be due to impaired DC initiation of naïve T cell responses. Specifically, these DC may not provide adequate Signals 1 (Ag presentation), 2 (costimulation), or 3 (cytokine production) to these T cells.