Dendritic cells: characteristics, functions, role in antimicrobial protection. Dendritic cells against cancer

There are a lot of threats that can cause significant harm to the human body. As examples, various types of infections and even cancer can be cited . And important is the fact that, along with the usual methods of treating such diseases, modern scientific centers and clinics are beginning to use dendritic cells. Their effect causes tremendous changes in the affected organism due to artificial stimulation of the activity of immunity.

Dendritic cells

The fact that a person can successfully carry out their vital activity, largely depends on the state of his immune system. Without this protection, the body would be extremely vulnerable in the face of even minor modern diseases. And especially important role immunity plays in the difficult matter of confronting cancer cells. And such a struggle for the health of the body occurs constantly.

If you pay more attention to the protective mechanisms of the body, you can find that one of the important components of this system are antigen-presenting cells. They, in turn, are divided into three key groups: B-lymphocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells. And since the article is devoted to the latter, it is they who will be given the main attention.

If you translate the word dendron from Greek, it will mean nothing other than a tree. This term was used to refer to the type of cells in question, for the reason that they have a characteristic branched structure.

Features

This kind of cells should not be attributed to phagocytic elements, but their role in the process of deploying an immune response can not be overemphasized. Cells of this type can be either mature or not. And the latter are often fixed in the skin.

Dendritic cells are able to have both bone marrow origin, and no (myeloid and lymphoid).

The localization of the lymphoid species is the spleen, thymus, lymph nodes and blood. Their mission in the thymus is worthy of attention, because there they are responsible for negative selection. This process is understood as the removal of T-lymphocytes, which have the ability to react with their own antigens.

As for myeloid cells, they are in interstitial tissues, mucous membranes and skin. At the same time they can be described as mobile.

Cells not of bone marrow origin, in turn, are localized in follicles of lymphoid organs. They also represent the B-lymphocyte antigen, and carry on the surface immune complexes.

Structure

Before paying attention to how the dendritic cells are treated, it is worth paying attention to their structure. They can be described as a non-homogeneous group, which is divided into two types with different functions. But nevertheless, both varieties have a similar appearance.

This type of cells has the following visual features: they are rounded (in some cases, oval) and quite large. At the same time, their shape is branched, uneven with process contours. They have a nucleus, and the cytoplasm inside them is filled with organelles. As for the surface, then it is concentrated a lot of receptors.

There are a lot of such cells in the body and they are found in almost all tissues and organs.

Dendritic cells: functions

As mentioned above, the main task of this type of cells is to represent the antigen. This term is used to describe the process during which the destruction of the foreign element occurs first, and then the elimination (removal) of the components that make the attacked particle foreign.

By the way: phagocytosis is used to neutralize dangerous elements. Once the potential threat has been eliminated, the captured antigens are transferred to other immunocompetent cells. Such transportation is necessary for the transfer of information to all elements of the protection system. In simpler terms, the dendritic cells transmit the message to the immunity that a danger has been fixed. As a result, the defense is brought into a state, so to speak, of combat readiness and purposefully blocks the indicated threat.

Concerning the issue of protection against infections, it is worth paying attention to a variety of dendritic cells, such as plasmacytoid elements. In their formation, the same cell germ is involved as in the case of lymphocytes. This type of cells blocks the possibility of progression of infection through the release of interferons.

The process of exposure

It is worth noting the close relationship that dendritic cells have, immunology and cancer treatment.

At the same time, it is important to pay attention to the fact that such cells can be easily reproduced in the conditions of a modern laboratory. To achieve this result, it is necessary to separate monocytes from other elements of the blood. This stage is also not technically complex. Then the effect on the cell culture is effected by certain factors, and within a few days the stem cells or monocytes are transformed into dendritic elements, which were the original goal.

Now there are many clinics offering dendritic cells as a treatment tool. Immunology has taken such a step forward that such a technique allows one to effectively influence rather complicated diseases, including oncological diseases.

Moreover, after carrying out certain studies, it was proved that the introduction of elements of the immune system can give a powerful positive effect in the treatment of patients who suffer from chronic infections, not for one year.

A little about such a serious problem as a malignant tumor

In order to better understand how the dendritic cells treat cancer, it makes sense to pay attention to the problem itself.

So, if you look at the human body more closely, you can find out all the known fact: the body consists of cells, or more precisely, of their whole system, where each component performs a specific function. Sometimes it happens that the control over the growth, mobility and size of a certain group is lost. The consequence of this loss is the rapid and unrestrained reproduction of such cells, which begin to actively penetrate into tissues located in the immediate vicinity.

On this the history of the defeat of the organism by cancer cells does not end: they enter the blood or lymphatic channel, after which they spread to other parts of the body, forming metastases and daughter tumors. It is worth noting also the fact that there are a lot of tumors themselves - more than a hundred species. And each of them is unique in its own way.

Based on the information that physicians have at the moment, it can be confidently asserted that one of the key factors determining the fate of a tumor is the human immune system. That is why dendritic cells against cancer are an effective strategy for combating the tumor.

What does treatment look like?

From the patient's blood, special precursor cells are isolated. They are necessary for the subsequent cultivation of dendritic elements. After this, all the necessary conditions are created to ensure that the necessary qualities, without which further development of the material is impossible, are preserved.

Specialists wait for the phase during which the maturation occurs, and tumor structures obtained through genetic engineering are added to the cell culture. Do not exclude the use of so-called fragments of the tumor itself. Next, the precursor cell captures a dangerous element, followed by a change in its structure.

The value of this process is that the dendritic cells begin to more accurately recognize the characteristic characteristic of the tumor. Moreover, this experience is transmitted to the entire immune system.

The final stage is the dendritic cells introduced into the patient's body. Vaccines are one of the most common methods for accomplishing this task. After this procedure is performed, there is an active movement of cells into the lymph nodes and the subsequent activation of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. These performers contact the elements of the tumor, completely destroying them.

Once the threat has been detected and recognized, it begins to search for the entire blood flow and tissues of the body. Once the target is found, the executing cell inflicts fatal injuries to the enemy element and notifies the immune system of this fact through the development of special substances.

This is such a difficult, but effective treatment cycle has become available through research in the field of immunology.

Vaccines, which are based on dendritic cells

There are several effective drugs that include the action of the principle described above. One example is the vaccine "Steveumax." Its main task is stimulation of a full-fledged response of the body's immune system to cancer cells containing mucin-1 glycoprotein. This is a fairly common antigen.

At the second stage of the tests, this drug showed worthy results, although, of course, there are certain contraindications.

In order to have the desired effect on the body's defense systems, the doctor must inject the vaccine into the subcutaneous tissue of the patient's stomach. Already after 15 minutes after the completion of this procedure the patient can go home.

But it is important to constantly visit a doctor for blood tests - this will provide a clear picture of the processes that occur in the immune system. If all is well, then the concentration of cell-executors destroying the tumor should increase significantly. Once their level begins to drop, you need to re-vaccinate.

It should be noted that cancer is not the only problem that dendritic cells can solve. The role in antimicrobial protection of this system of treatment is also difficult to overestimate, as it is capable of inducing the activation of the immune system, which in turn leads to the complete destruction of the infection.

Possible side effects

Vaccination, in addition to a strong protective effect, can lead to some negative consequences. In fact, we are talking about the manifestations that accompany the overall reaction of the body's immune system. During this process, the release of those substances that are involved in inflammatory infectious diseases.

If we talk about specific signs, it is worth mentioning weakness and fever. In some cases, redness of the skin in the place where the injection was made is possible. Sometimes you have to deal with the increase in lymph nodes.

Advantages of dendritic cell therapy

If we consider such methods of combating cancer, as radio and chemotherapy, we can not overlook the obvious - the body at this time is experiencing severe stress. But in the case of dendritic cells, everything that is used for treatment is a person's own defense system and its specific components. The difference in approaches is more than noticeable.

And although this method still has side effects, they make themselves felt relatively rarely, and the damage from them can not be called significant. Another significant advantage of this therapy is that all recovery processes can be performed in an outpatient setting, which means that the patient does not need to be constantly in the clinic.

Russian Treatment Centers

In the CIS, research is being conducted to create vaccines based on dendritic cells. Novosibirsk is one of the cities where the respective centers are located. And if we consider this region, then it is worth mentioning SRI SB RAMS. It is at this institute that a vaccine is tested that can counteract a tumor. Good results were obtained in the treatment of colorectal cancer .

But this research institute is not the only place where studies are conducted in which dendritic cells are used. Treatment in St. Petersburg is also at a decent level and meets European standards. If we talk more specifically about the use of an individual vaccine, then it makes sense to recall the RNHI them. Polenov.

In general, more attention is paid to this issue in Russia. And such a forecast, of course, can be considered optimistic.

Results

This kind of overcoming of a cancerous tumor, like the use of dendritic cells, can be called a fairly young technique. But this does not change the fact that its popularity in the scientific community is growing rapidly due to its high level of efficiency.

Moreover, in Germany there are health insurance companies, as well as insurance companies, which have already begun to cover the costs associated with such treatment.