The role of XCR1 and its ligand XCL1 in antigen cross-presentation by murine and human dendritic cells

Abstract

Recently, the chemokine receptor XCR1 has been found to be exclusively expressed on a subset of dendritic cell (DC) known to be involved in antigen cross-presentation. This review aims to summarize the known biology of the XCR1 receptor and its chemokine ligand XCL1, both in the mouse and the human. Further, any involvement of this receptor- ligand pair in antigen uptake, cross-presentation, and induction of innate and adaptive cytotoxic immunity is explored.The concept of antigen delivery to DC via the XCR1 receptor is discussed as a vaccination strategy for selective induction of cytotoxic immunity against certain pathogens or tumors. © 2012 Kroczek and Henn.