Unraveling the complexities of immune responses: This comprehensive review examines the role of cross-presentation in tolerance and immunity, focusing on the process by which antigen-presenting cells (APCs), especially dendritic cells (DCs), present exogenous antigens to T cells. We discuss the antigenic requirements for cross-presentation, the phenotype of the APC, and the cellular interactions and molecular signals involved in cross-priming. A significant portion of this review is dedicated to summarizing our current understanding of the cross-presenting APC, covering its function and the factors that direct the immune system toward tolerance or immunity. This provides a comprehensive view of the diverse mechanisms and signals that influence the balance between immune activation and suppression, particularly by dendritic cells. This review enhances our understanding of cross-presentation and its role in shaping immune responses and has broad implications for vaccine design and immunotherapy.
Being published in the Annual Review of Immunology, this review is well-aligned with the journal’s focus on providing comprehensive overviews of key topics in immunology. By examining the role of cross-presentation in tolerance and immunity, the review fits the journal's mandate to synthesize current knowledge and highlight important areas for future research in the field.