| Summary: | It is now apparent that dendritic cells not only play important roles in the body's immune system through their complex interactions with T cells, B cells, and other cell types, but also possess distinct functional attributes that enable them to assume different roles in that system. In Dendritic Cell Protocols, Stephen P. Robinson, MD, PhD, and Andrew Stagg, PhD, have brought together a wide range of time-proven methods for studying these so-called "veiled" cells. Many of these readily reproducible techniques deal with the problem of obtaining sufficient dendritic cells for analysis, whether by isolation from a wide variety of tissues or from various progenitor cell populations. Other methods describe in step-by-step fashion the techniques commonly used for analyzing aspects of dendritic cells, ranging from cell migration to antigen uptake and T cell stimulation. Variant methods that have been successful in other laboratories have been included to expand experimental possibilities. In addition, a few techniques explore the practical challenges involved in using dendritic cells in a clinical setting to develop novel immunotherapeutics. State-of-the-art and highly practical, Dendritic Cell Protocols provides both experienced and novice investigators with powerful tools to illuminate the complex biology of these foundation cells-cells that shape the evolution of acquired immune responses, play important roles in innate immunity, and promise the development of powerful new immunotherapeutics
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