Major histocompatibility complex peptide presentation

Major-Histocompatibility-Complex Proteins Present Peptide Antigens on Cell Surfaces for Recognition by T-Cell Receptors... 

Major-Histocompatibility-Complex Proteins Present Peptide Antigens on Cell Surfaces for Recognition by T-Cell Receptors Intracellular pathogens such as viruses and mycobacteria cannot be easily detected. Intracellular proteins are constantly being cut into... 

Major-Histocompatibility-Complex Proteins Present Peptide Antigens... 

MAJOR-HISTOCOMPATIBILITY-COMPLEX PROTEINS PRESENT PEPTIDE ANTIGENS ON CELL SURFACES FOR RECOGNITION BY T-CELL RECEPTORS... 

Group of transmembrane proteins engaged in the presentation of small peptide fragments to T-cells. Two classes of Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules exist both of which are encoded by a highly polymorphic gene cluster. MHC class I and class II proteins present peptide fragments to CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells, respectively. The human MHC is also known as HLA, the murine MHC as H-2 complex. 

Formation of antigens from the intracellular degradation of pathogens The proteolytic system hydrolyses proteins of pathogens that are present within the host cell (e.g. a virus), to produce a short peptide which forms a complex with a specific protein, known as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) protein. The peptide is, in fact, the antigen. At the plasma membrane, the MHC protein locates within the membrane and the small peptide sits on the outside of the membrane, where it can interact with the receptor on a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte to kill the host cell and the virus (Chapter 17). 

To initiate a T-cell immune response, antigen presenting cells have to display antigenic peptides com-plexed with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on their cell surface. The T-cell receptor of CDS cells is specific for the peptide-MHC class I complex while the CD4 cell receptor binds the peptide-MHC class II complex. This binding of the peptide-MHC II complex stimulates CD4 cell proliferation and subsequent lymphokine release. This CD4 cell response can initiate a delayed hypersensitivity reaction. However CD4 activation and the production of various lymphokines is also needed for the generation of cytotoxic T-cells and for the differentiation of plasma cells from B-lymphocytes and the antibody response by these plasma cells. For their role in also the humoral immune response CD4 cells are called T-helper cells. 

Fig. 11.1. Principle of an immunological synapse. Possibilities for communication between B and T cells during an immune response. Antigenic peptides are presented by the MHC complex class II at the surface of the B cell. The antigens are recognized and bound by T cell receptors of the T cell. The T cell receptor is activated and sets a signal chain in motion that leads to activation of the expression of cytokines, such as IL-2. The cytokine is secreted, and binds and activates a cytokine receptor on the B cell. TNFa is shown as another example of a ligand-receptor system. TNFa communicates, as a membrane-bound ligand, with a corresponding receptor on the surface of the B cell. The interactions shown take place in a narrow spatial region between B and T cells, which is why this system is referred to as an immunological synapse. TNF tumor necrosis factor MHC major histocompatibility complex IL-2 interleukin 2.

APC, antigen-presenting cell and, class I and II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens o and , peptides from degraded antigen bound to MFIC molecules ... 

The antigen must be broken down to small peptides which contain the epitope. The peptides must be presented to the TcR complex by major histocompatibility complex molecule, MHC. 

The requirement of multifunctional peptide complexes is perhaps most obvious for the development of subunit peptide vaccines. Successful immunizations with peptide antigens cannot be achieved without the inclusion of a bystander T-helper cell determinant in the chemical entity (4) or in the immunizing cocktail (5). For outbred animals and humans, multiple peptide epitopes, representing determinants of more than one major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins, are used to overcome subunit vaccine unresponsiveness, and this also improves antigen presentation in inbred animals (6). 

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