Fig. 3.

The role of DCs and DC-SIGN in HDM allergy. Decreased expression of DC-SIGN and more immature phenotypes in MDDCs from Der p-sensitive asthmatic patients may partially explain the enhancement of the Th2 response associated with HDM-related allergies. In addition, Der p can modulate differentiation and maturation of monocyte-derived DCs through DC-SIGN binding and downregulation of its expression, which may result in an aletred polarization activity, leading to the Th2 cytokine immune response.