Osteopontin (OPN) is a pleiotropic cytokine produced both by immune and non-immune cells and active on different cellular targets. OPN production has been associated with several pathological conditions, including autoimmune diseases (e.g. lupus, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis) and cancer. Emerging evidence suggests that the role of OPN has been underestimated, as it seems to be working at multiple levels of immune regulation, such as the shaping of T cell effector responses, the regulation of the tumor microenvironment, and the functional interaction with mesenchymal stromal cells. In this context, dendritic cells (DCs) play a crucial role being both an important source and a cellular target for OPN action. DC family is composed by several cell subsets endowed with specific immune functions. OPN exerts its biological functions through multiple receptors and is produced in different intracellular and secreted forms. OPN production by DC subsets is emerging as a crucial mechanism of regulation in normal and pathological conditions and starts to be exploited as a therapeutic target. This review will focus on the role of DC-derived OPN in shaping immune response and on the complex role of this cytokines in the regulation in immune response.

骨桥蛋白（OPN）是一种由免疫细胞和非免疫细胞产生的多效细胞因子，对不同的细胞靶具有活性。OPN的产生与多种病理状况有关，包括自身免疫性疾病（例如狼疮，多发性硬化症和类风湿关节炎）和癌症。新兴证据表明，OPN的作用被低估了，因为它似乎在多种免疫调节水平上起作用，例如T细胞效应子反应的形成，肿瘤微环境的调节以及与间充质基质细胞的功能相互作用。 。在这种情况下，树突状细胞（DC）扮演着至关重要的角色，既是OPN作用的重要来源又是细胞靶标。DC家族由具有特定免疫功能的几个细胞亚群组成。OPN通过多种受体发挥其生物学功能，并以不同的细胞内和分泌形式产生。DC子集产生的OPN逐渐成为正常和病理条件下调节的关键机制，并开始被用作治疗靶标。这篇综述将集中在DC衍生的OPN在塑造免疫应答中的作用，以及这种细胞因子在免疫应答调节中的复杂作用。