Antigen-presenting cell interactions dendritic cells

The class II proteins are produced mainly within specific cells, known as antigen-presenting cells (APC). Their role is to prepare antigens derived from the pathogens in such a way that they can interact with the T-helper cell receptor. Since this is their only role, they are sometimes called professional antigen-presenting cells , i.e. other immune cells can also present peptides to T-helper cells (e.g. macrophages, B-lymphocytes) but this is not their prime role. The professional APCs are also known as dendritic cells. 

In adult mice the primary antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) is one of the most sensitive and reproducible immune endpoints that is affected by TCDD and related HAHs. For example, the TCDD dose that suppresses this response by 50% in mice is approximately 0.7 pg TCDD/kg. The antibody response to SRBCs is dependent on the collaborative interaction of antigen-presenting cells (dendritic cells) and T and B lymphocytes all of these cells appear to be targets for TCDD. 

The mechanisms of autoimmunity may also entail interaction with MHC structures determined by the HLA alleles. Individuals carrying certain HLA alleles have been shown to be predisposed to certain autoimmune diseases, which may account in part for the genetic variability of autoimmunity. In addition, metabolites of a particular drug may vary between individuals to confound the development of drug-induced autoimmunity. Dendritic cells, such as the Langerhans cells of the skin and B lymphocytes that function to present antigens to Th cells, express class-II... 

---