Role of chaperones and FcγR in immunogenic death

Cell death under physiologic conditions does not lead to the induction of immunity. However recognition of stressed or opsonized cells can trigger immune responses. Recent studies have begun to illustrate the critical role of molecular chaperones such as inducible heat shock proteins in mediating immunogenicity of stressed cells. Immunity to opsonized cells depends in part on the engagement and the balance of activating and inhibitory FcγRs on antigen presenting dendritic cells. Understanding both these pathways of immunogenic cell death may yield novel approaches to regulate immunity.