Monocyte‐Derived Dendritic Cells: An Updated View on an Old Concept

Dendritic cells comprise several populations with distinct ontogeny that share core features including a typical dendritic morphology and the ability to present antigens and stimulate T cells. Dendritic cells originating from monocytes have been reported in steady‐state and in different inflammatory contexts, in mouse models and in human clinical samples. However, because of their phenotypical and transcriptional proximity with other dendritic cell subsets and with monocyte‐derived macrophages, whether monocyte‐derived dendritic cells (mo‐DCs) represent a distinct population has been controversial. Here, we summarize the evidence supporting the existence of mo‐DCs in vivo and we review work addressing the molecular regulation of mo‐DCs differentiation and their role in immune responses. We also discuss the potential for harnessing mo‐DCs differentiation for therapy.