pDCs, which are morphologically similar to plasma cells that produce antibodies, initiate from the lymphoid progenitors. pDCs demonstrate strong activation in response to viral and bacterial infections, secreting massive amounts of type I-IFN and acquiring the ability to present foreign antigens.pDCs express low levels of MHC-II, co-stimulatory molecules and the integrin CD11c in the steady state. When they are not stimulated, pDCs show a tolerogenic potential. Here, ITGAX is linked to bacterial infectious disease.