Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells (eBook)

This book provides a systematic review of the development, function, and patho-physiologic role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in humans. The chapters of the book discuss the origin and discovery, hematopoietic development as well as molecular regulation of pDCs in the context of immune activation as well as immune tolerance. It also discusses the role of pDCs in human diseases, including infections, autoimmune/inflammatory diseases, cancers and metabolic disorders, and opportunities for pDC-targeting therapies in these varied clinical contexts. 

Dr. Dipyaman Ganguly is a physician turned basic immunologist and is currently a Principal Scientist in CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (CSIR-IICB), Kolkata, India, and an Associate Professor with the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, New Delhi, India. Dr. Ganguly graduated in medicine from Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, in 2002 but shifted his career to biomedical research. In 2003, he earned his first Ph.D. in Biotechnology 2006 from CSIR-IICB. He carried out further research at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA, and received another Ph.D., in Immunology and Biomedical Sciences. He pursued his post-doctoral research at the Columbia University Medical Center, New York City, USA, as an SLE Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow, and in 2013, he started his independent laboratory in CSIR-IICB, India. Dr. Ganguly's research interests for the past fifteen years have been in the molecular regulation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells and their role in myriad clinical contexts of chronic inflammation and autoimmunity. His research provided key evidence for the role of pDCs in autoimmune disorders like systemic lupus and psoriasis, as well as in type 2 diabetes. The Department of Biotechnology of India awarded him the National Bioscience Award, one of the highest Indian science awards, for his contributions to biosciences, in 2017. He is also a recipient of the CDRI Award for Excellence in Drug Research (2018) from CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, India, Swarnajayanti Fellowship (2017) of the Department of Science and Technology, India, Merck Young Scientist Award (2019) and the NASI-Scopus Young Scientist Award of the Elsevier and the National Academy of Sciences, India. He has published a large number of research articles in esteemed international journals, authored several book chapters, and holds two patents on therapeutic modulation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Currently he is a Vice-President of the Indian Immunology Society.

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This book provides a systematic review of the development, function, and patho-physiologic role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in humans. The chapters of the book discuss the origin and discovery, hematopoietic development as well as molecular regulation of pDCs in the context of immune activation as well as immune tolerance. It also discusses the role of pDCs in human diseases, including infections, autoimmune/inflammatory diseases, cancers and metabolic disorders, and opportunities for pDC-targeting therapies in these varied clinical contexts.