Details for: CL0000990

Cell ID: CL0000990

Cell Name: conventional dendritic cell

Description: Originally described in the dendritic cell ontology (DC_CL:0000003)(PMID:19243617) These cells are also CD20-negative, MHCII-positive.

Synonyms: DC1, cDC, dendritic reticular cell, interdigitating cell, type 1 DC, veiled cell

Selected Context(s): Overall

Gene Significance Landscape

Display Options
Score:
Display
Genes

Contexts:

Cell Significance Index (CSI) is uniquely calculated to reveal cell-specific gene markers. More info here

Significant Genes List

Genes with the highest and lowest Percentile Rank Scores (PRS) for conventional dendritic cell within the selected context(s).

Gene ID: A unique numerical identifier for this specific gene.
Symbol: Shortened abbreviation or name that represents this gene.
Ensembl Gene ID: A unique identifier assigned by Ensembl for genomic data mapping.
CSI Score: A combined effect size and statistical significance measure for conventional dendritic cell. Higher scores indicate a stronger, more significant difference in expression.
(Previously described as "Fold Change", but now represents Cliff's Delta × –log10(p).)

Gene ID: A unique numerical identifier for this specific gene.
Symbol: Shortened abbreviation or name that represents this gene.
Ensembl Gene ID: A unique identifier assigned by Ensembl for genomic data mapping.
CSI Score: A combined effect size and statistical significance measure for conventional dendritic cell. Higher scores indicate a stronger, more significant difference in expression.
Average CSI: csi sum / gene count
Cell network configuration

This network visualizes key genes for conventional dendritic cell. It primarily includes:
1. Top genes highly significant for this cell (Num. Top Cell Genes - based on the 'Min. CSI' setting).
2. Any additional specific 'Context Genes' you add below.
The final network is a combined view. Choose an Interaction Source (pathways or protein interactions) and optionally compare CSI scores with a Baseline Cell Type.

Maximum number of selected genes.
Select a context for the baseline cell.
Select a context for the target cell.
Target Cell for CSI:  conventional dendritic cell (CL0000990)

 Legend
Nodes (Genes):
 Query Gene
Node size also reflects Target Cell CSI magnitude.
Node Color (Target Cell CSI in specific network):
 Very High
 High
 Medium
 Low
 Very Low
 N/A or Not Sig.
Edges (Interactions):
 STRING (Protein-Protein)
 ONTOLOGY (Shared Pathway)
 Colors vary by pathway category; default arrow applies.

Loading network (please wait)...

## Summary The [conventional dendritic cell](/details-cell/CL0000990) (cDC) is a professional antigen-presenting cell critical for initiating adaptive immune responses. Characterized as being MHC class II-positive and CD20-negative, its primary role involves capturing, processing, and presenting antigens to naive T cells. Analysis of its gene expression profile reveals a highly specialized transcriptional program. **Overall**, the most specific markers are not classical immune-related genes but a collection of poorly characterized transcripts, including [NUTM2D](/details-gene/728130) and several long non-coding RNAs. This suggests that the unique identity of cDCs may be defined by a largely unexplored regulatory and functional landscape, extending beyond their canonical role in antigen presentation. The high specificity of genes like [TRAV39](/details-gene/28642), a T-cell receptor variable segment, and [UGT1A8](/details-gene/54576), a metabolic enzyme, further points towards unconventional molecular functions that distinguish this cell type. ## Key Characteristics and Function The transcriptional identity of the [conventional dendritic cell](/details-cell/CL0000990) is underscored by a unique set of highly specific genes, which can be grouped into several functional themes. * **Immune and Developmental Regulation:** The high cell-specificity index (CSI) for [TRAV39](/details-gene/28642), a T-cell receptor alpha variable gene, is particularly noteworthy. While its canonical function lies within the T-cell receptor complex, its specific expression in a cDC is unexpected and may suggest a role in non-canonical recognition or interaction with lymphocytes. Additionally, the specific expression of transcription factors like [DBX2](/details-gene/440097) and developmental proteins such as [GDF3](/details-gene/9573) points to a tightly controlled regulatory program that establishes and maintains the cDC's specialized state. The expression of [STRC](/details-gene/161497), involved in cell adhesion, is consistent with the cDC's need for intimate cell-cell contact during immune surveillance and T-cell priming. * **Specialized Metabolic Activity:** A striking feature is the prominence of genes involved in metabolic processes. [UGT1A8](/details-gene/54576), an enzyme involved in the conjugation and detoxification of small molecules, shows high specificity. This may indicate a specialized capacity for processing certain types of environmental or endogenous metabolites, potentially influencing the nature of the antigens presented or the local tissue microenvironment. Furthermore, the significant expression of [FTH1](/details-gene/2495) suggests a crucial role for iron metabolism and storage, a process intricately linked to inflammatory responses and cellular bioenergetics. * **Novel and Uncharacterized Markers:** A significant portion of the top markers for cDCs are genes of unknown function, pseudogenes, or long non-coding RNAs, such as [NUTM2D](/details-gene/728130), [TMEM123 DT](/details-gene/101928424), [CXorf65](/details-gene/158830), and [LINC02877](/details-gene/152118). This finding strongly suggests that the core identity and functions of cDCs are governed by molecules and regulatory networks that are not yet well understood, presenting a major area for future investigation. * **Anti-Markers:** The low significance scores for a diverse array of genes, including the complement component [C9](/details-gene/735), mitochondrial helicase [TWNK](/details-gene/56652), and transcription factor [FOXO4](/details-gene/4303), reinforce the highly specialized nature of the cDC transcriptome. The lack of specific enrichment for these genes suggests that the cDC is not primarily involved in terminal complement-mediated killing and possesses a cellular program distinct from those where these genes play a more central role. ## Clinical Significance and Contextual Roles **Overall**, the gene signature of [conventional dendritic cells](/details-cell/CL0000990) highlights several genes with potential clinical relevance, offering insights into their roles in disease. The high specificity of [PRND](/details-gene/23627), which encodes the PrP-like protein Doppel, is intriguing. Given the involvement of prion proteins in neurodegenerative diseases, this suggests cDCs could play a role in the transport, processing, or immune response to prions and other protein aggregates ([Link](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10525406/)). The notable expression of [STRC](/details-gene/161497) is also clinically relevant, as mutations in this gene are a known cause of non-syndromic deafness and male infertility ([Link](https://doi.org/10.1136/jmg.2006.045765/)). Its specific expression in cDCs is unexpected and could imply an unappreciated role for these cells in the immune surveillance of the inner ear or reproductive tracts, or it may point to a shared molecular pathway between sensory cells and immune cells. The large number of uncharacterized genes ([NUTM2D](/details-gene/728130), [CXorf65](/details-gene/158830)) that define cDC identity represents a significant opportunity for biomarker discovery. These novel markers could potentially be used to track cDC populations in various disease states, such as autoimmune disorders, cancer, or infection, or serve as targets for therapies aimed at modulating DC function. The presence of these unique markers underscores how much of the specific biology of this critical immune cell remains to be elucidated. ## Potential Mechanisms and Research Directions 1. **Hypothesis:** The highly specific expression of metabolic enzymes like [UGT1A8](/details-gene/54576), typically associated with detoxification in epithelial tissues, suggests that cDCs possess a specialized machinery to process and potentially present small molecule or lipid-based antigens derived from the microenvironment. This metabolic activity may be a key determinant in shaping the type of T-cell response (e.g., tolerance vs. immunity) initiated by the cDC. * **Surprising Findings:** The identification of a classic detoxification enzyme as a top marker for a professional antigen-presenting cell is unexpected and challenges the conventional view that protein antigens are the sole focus of cDC activity. * **Testable Questions:** Does selective inhibition of [UGT1A8](/details-gene/54576) in human cDCs alter their ability to stimulate T-cell responses when pulsed with environmental toxins or drugs known to be UGT1A8 substrates? 2. **Hypothesis:** The expression of the T-cell receptor alpha variable gene segment [TRAV39](/details-gene/28642) as a top specificity marker points to a non-canonical function for TCR-like molecules in cDCs. This transcript may encode a protein that acts as a receptor for endogenous or pathogen-derived ligands, or it could mediate direct, MHC-independent interactions with T cells or other immune cells, thereby modulating the immune synapse. * **Surprising Findings:** A gene component thought to be exclusively rearranged and expressed in T cells serving as a defining, specific marker for a myeloid-lineage cell is a paradigm-shifting observation. - **Testable Questions:** Can a protein product of the [TRAV39](/details-gene/28642) gene be detected on the surface of cDCs? If so, does a blocking antibody against this product inhibit the cDC's ability to activate naive T cells in a co-culture assay?