Figure 1.

DCs originate from common monocyte-DC precursors (MDP) in the bone marrow (BM), which arise from granulocyte-monocyte progenitors (GMP). MDPs further differentiate into common DC precursors (CDP) or common monocyte progenitors (CMP). CDPs subsequently give rise to pre-cDC1 and pre-cDC2 cells. Additionally, CDPs can differentiate into pre-plasmacytoid DCs (pre-pDCs), which further mature into immature pDCs. CMPs, on the other hand, differentiate into monocytes. The cells generated in the BM migrate to peripheral tissues and secondary lymphoid organs as immature or not fully mature cells. Upon encountering activation conditions, immature cDC1 cells fully mature to cross-present antigens to T cells in the lymphoid organs, cDC2 cells present antigens and produce cytokines, pDCs increase type I interferon production, and monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs) differentiate into inflammatory moDCs. (Created via BioRender).