My lab focuses on how dendritic cells (DCs) govern the balance between immunity and tolerance. DCs roam tissues for the presence of self or foreign antigens and upon uptake, mature in a homeostatic or immunogenic manner, respectively. Mature DCs present their antigen to T cells in the lymph node and will instruct them to either tolerate or destroy antigen expressing cells, depending on their maturation state. While the pathways leading to immunogenic DC maturation are well understood, pathways controlling the homeostatic maturation program are not. Our lab uncovered a role for apoptotic cell engulfment and lipid influx as a major trigger for homeostatic DC maturation. Follow-up studies aim at deciphering transcriptional networks driving this decision point, understanding the role of cholesterol metabolism in antigen presentation, and understanding how homeostatic mature DCs contribute to peripheral tolerance. In addition, we use our recent insights to develop tolerogenic DC vaccines.