Dendritic cells (DCs) are immune cells and form part of the mammalian immune system. Their main function is to process antigen material and present it on their surface to other cells of the immune system. Dendritic cells are present in small quantities in tissues that are in contact with the external environment, mainly the skin (where they are often called Langerhans cells) and the inner lining of the nose, lung, stomach and intestines. They can also be found at an immature state in the blood. Once activated, they migrate to the lymphoid tissues where they interact with T cells and B cells to initiate and shape the immune response. At certain development stages they grow branched projections, the dendrites, that give the cell its name. However, these do not have any special relation with neurons, which also possess similar appendages. Immature dendritic cells are also called veiled cells, in which case they possess large cytoplasmic 'veils' rather than dendrites.

ADAM19 (MADDAM)

• a molecular marker for human dendritic cells and not expressed in macrophages. PMID: 15896713

BDCA-2

• a cell surface protein whose expression is restricted to human plasmacytoid dendritic cells, in a differentiation stage-specific manner. PMID: 16998465

CD1a

• a marker of immature DCs, plays a role in tumorigenesis. PMID: 16159438
• a human epidermal dendritic cell marker related to class I MHC molecules. PMID: 2784820

CD11c

• a marker of dendritic cells. PMID: 16142734

CD21

• a reliable marker of follicular dendritic cells. PMID: 16280657

CD83

• maps to chromosome 6p23. PMID: 10738529
• specific for dendritic cells. PMID: 12452842
• a marker of mature dendritic cells. PMID: 12113551

CD86

• a specific marker for canine monocyte-derived dendritic cells. PMID: 16202456

CD208

• CD208 DC lysosomal-associated protein is a marker of activated human dendritic cells. PMID: 16899762
• Dendritic cell-lysosomal associated membrane protein (DC-LAMP)/CD208, a member of the lysosomal associated membrane protein (LAMP) family, is specifically expressed by human DCs on activation. PMID: 14982840

CLIP-170/restin

• a marker for dendritic cells. PMID: 12433698

Clusterin

• follicular dendritic cell marker. PMID: 15252304

DC-LAMP (CD208)

• a member of the lysosomal-associated membrane protein (LAMP) family, is specifically expressed by human dendritic cells (DC) upon activation and therefore serves as marker of human DC maturation. PMID: 12938238, PMID: 14982840

DEC-205

• a good marker of the lymphoid-related regulatory type of dendritic cell (DC). PMID: 10784619

Estrogen Receptor-alpha

• a novel marker expressed by follicular dendritic cells in lymph nodes and tumor-associated lymphoid infiltrates. PMID: 14507640

Fascin

• a 55-kd actin-bundling protein, represents a highly selective marker for dendritic cells of lymphoid tissues and peripheral blood. PMID: 12219775

HLA-DR

• HLA-DR antigen is present on the plasma membrane and within some of the dilated cisternae. PMID: 3515706

MADDAM (metalloprotease and disintegrin dendritic antigen marker)

• an important marker for the differentiation and characterization of DCs and the distinction between MACs and DCs. PMID: 10887142

NLDC-145

• a dendritic cell specific marker NLDC. PMID: 3265929
• recognizes DEC-205, a 205-kDa integral membrane glycoprotein. PMID: 7758125, PMID: 7553896
• NLDC-145 detects an antigen (DEC-205) expressed at high levels by mouse dendritic cells (DCs) and thymic epithelial cells. PMID: 7553896

S-100

• an immunohistochemical marker for a subset of dendritic cells, the interdigitating reticulum cells (IDRCs), which are mainly located in T-dependent areas of lymphoid tissues. PMID: 2878529