Antigens processing cell

Note that the mechanism proposed for helper T-cell function requires that T cells have surface receptors that recognize antigen-processing cells, antigen itself, and the appropriate B cell. We will shortly discuss the nature of T-cell receptors, as well as the surface structures they recognize, in a broader context. 

Interfaces play a predominant role in metabolic processes [78], as well as in immune recognition (e.g. T lymphocytes recognizing antigens on the surface of antigen presenting cells, section c2.14.6.2. Historically, the bulk of experimental... 

Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) are cells of the immune system that are able to process and present foreign antigens to effector cells. The antigen is presented in the context of an MHC-I or MHC-II molecule on APCs in the presence of so-called costimulatory molecules to activate the effector cells. 

Parallel to orchestrating acute inflammatory processes by providing an optimal milieu of cytokines, mediators, and adhesion molecules in order to recruit and activate effector cells to the site of infection, dendritic cells also setve as professional antigen-presenting cells for cells of the adaptive immune system ( antigen presentation ... 

Class IIHLA molecules are expressed on the surface of antigen-presenting cells. They play a key role in presentation of processed linear peptide antigens of at least nine amino acids to T cells. Antigen is bound to the HLA antigen binding cleft formed by the a and 3 chains of the HLA class II molecule. This tri-molecular HLA-antigen complex binds in turn to the variable portion of the T-cell receptor. 

Kloetzel PM Antigen processing by the protea-some. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2001 2 179-187. 

Campbell R.D. Trowsdale J. (1993) Map ofthe human MHC. Immunol Today, 14, 349-352. Germain R.H. Marguiles D.M. (1993) The biochemistry and cell biology of antigen processing and presentation. Ann Rev11, 403-450. 

---