In article <3AC3D87D.5BB8B5E7 at Mail.TJU.Edu>,
Mark Haynes <Mark.Haynes at Mail.TJU.Edu> wrote:
> really, please explain?
> markH
>> > > Blood cells
> > > I think of them as a differentiated form of monocyte.
> >
> > Which is almost entirely but not completely incorrect... 8^}
> >
> > Ian.
There are many more learned people than I and many good reviews where
you could find a better reply, but suffice it to say there is evidence
that some DC subsets can be derived via monocytes, others by a
lymphoid pathway, some via granulocytes, some via CD34+ progenitors
without recapitulating the other lineages. This does not include
other DC family members, such as dermal or follicular DCs.
The whole area of monocyte/DC interactions is a fascinating field of
research. I think these cells should be classified functionally
rather than morphologically/ontologically.
And as to whether it all happens that way in vivo as opposed to in
vitro observations, well, that's a whole other story....!
Ian.
