IntroductionDendritic cells (DCs) are rare immune cells scattered in lymphoid and nonlymphoid organs throughout the body serving as pivotal coordinators of the immune system. 1,2 A key feature of DCs is that they set a fine balance between protective and pathologic immune responses. On the one hand, DCs are required to generate immunity against invading pathogens 3-7 and T-cell tolerance to self, 1,[8][9][10] depending on their activation status. On the other hand, a relatively small increase in DC numbers results in T-cell hyperactivation and autoimmunity. 11,12 Thus, it is crucial to maintain an optimal number of DCs whereby both T-cell immunity and tolerance are achieved. Despite the critical function of DCs in regulating innate and adaptive immune response, 1-7 very little is known about the homeostatic control of DC numbers.In addition, lineage commitment and differentiation of DC precursors are only beginning to be understood. [13][14][15][16] As hematopoietic cells, DCs originate from myeloid precursors (MPs) in bone marrow (BM). 17 A common macrophage and DC precursor (MDP) has been identified in BM. 18 Specialized precursors with the capacity to differentiate exclusively into DCs have also been identified such as the common DC precursor (CDP) 19 and pro-DC 20 in BM, and the immediate pre-DC precursor in BM, spleen, and lymph nodes. [20][21][22] Recently, a linear differentiation from MPs to MDPs, CDPs, pre-DCs, and DCs has been suggested. 23 Pro-DCs and CDPs in the BM share phenotypical characteristics 19,20 and both differentiate into pre-DCs, 19,20,23 but whether they represent the same cell population remains to be formally elucidated. In recent years, it has become evident that BM DC precursors enter the circulation and extravasate into secondary lymphoid organs, skin, and lung where they finally differentiate into DCs. 18,19,21,22,[24][25][26][27][28] In the steady state, spleen and lymph node DCs do not seem to be derived from monocytes but from specialized precursors. 21,29 Regulation of cellular homeostasis in other immune compartments is relatively well defined. For example, the size of the lymphocyte compartment is mainly controlled by the proliferation of mature T and B cells in the periphery, where competition for growth factors, such as IL-7, and MHC recognition by T cells dictates the extent of cell division. [30][31][32][33][34] In contrast to lymphocytes, homeostasis of neutrophils is partly achieved by the regulated release of neutrophils from the BM via GM-CSF, CXCR4, and SDF-1. 35,36 Regarding the DC compartment, Flt3 ligand (Flt3-L) is known to be required for its generation 37 by promoting proliferation and differentiation of DC precursors. 17,26 However, it is not known whether the maintenance of DC numbers in lymphoid organs during noninfectious states is the result of a passive or active process. The former implies that a steady rate of generation from precursors equals the rate of DC death, resulting in a constant size of the DC compartment (eg, 3 ϫ 10 6 DCs per mouse spleen). I...