Dental Pulp Defence and Repair Mechanisms in Dental Caries

Figure 2

The putative role of dendritic cells (DCs) in the regulation of T helper (Th) and induced regulatory T (iTreg) cell differentiation. Upon encountering antigens (Ag), immature DCs usually become mature DCs which present antigens to naive CD4+ (Th0) cells. Upon antigen recognition, Th0 cells clonally expand and can differentiate into various subsets of effector cells (Th1, Th2, or Th17) or into iTreg cells depending on the cytokines present in their environment. Alternatively, immature DCs can mature only partially to become Tolerogenic-DCs (Tol-DCs) which can directly induce iTreg cell differentiation through TGF-β and IL-10 secretion. IL, interleukin; IFN, interferon; TGF, transforming growth factor; Ig, immunoglobulin.