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Antigen Presenting Cells

Antigen Presenting Cells

The immune system is a complex network of cells and molecules that protects the body from foreign invaders. T cells, a type of white blood cell, play a crucial role in this process. They recognize and attack foreign substances, such as pathogens, that enter the body.
T cells require the help of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which process foreign antigens into smaller fragments that can be recognized by T cells. These APCs are highly specialized cells that efficiently internalize antigens...

Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity

Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity

An antigen is any substance the immune system identifies as foreign and potentially harmful to the body, prompting an immune response. Antigens have two functional properties: immunogenicity and reactivity. Immunogenicity is the ability of an antigen to stimulate a specific immune response. At the same time, reactivity describes the antigen's ability to react with the cells and antibodies produced in response to it.
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and reactivity.

Antigen Processing Pathways

Antigen Processing Pathways

MHC molecules are key players in the immune response, enabling T cells to recognize and respond to specific antigens. They are present on the surface of all nucleated cells in the body and are instrumental in presenting antigens to T cells and activating them. T cells recognize the MHC-antigen complex and initiate an immune response. MHC class I and MHC class II are two main types of MHC molecules, each associated with a distinct antigen processing pathway.
MHC Class I: Presenting Endogenous...

Vaccinations

Vaccinations

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

T cells are integral to our adaptive immune system, recognizing and effectively responding to foreign antigens. T cell activation and clonal selection are pivotal in orchestrating this immune response. This article elucidates these mechanisms, detailing the roles of cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, costimulatory signals, and the process of clonal selection.
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...

B Cell Activation and Differentiation

B Cell Activation and Differentiation

The adaptive immune response, a sophisticated defense mechanism, relies on the activation and differentiation of B lymphocytes, or B cells. These processes enable our bodies to mount a tailored response against specific pathogens such as bacteria, free virus particles, toxins, and parasites.
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Generation of Human Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells from Whole Blood

Generation of Human Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells from Whole Blood

Published on: December 24, 2016

Antigen presentation by dendritic cells in vivo.

Elodie Segura¹, José A Villadangos

¹INSERM U, Paris, France. segura@wehi.edu.au

Current Opinion in Immunology

|April 4, 2009

Summary

Dendritic cells (DC) are diverse immune cells with specialized roles in antigen presentation. Understanding these distinct DC subsets is crucial for effective vaccine development and immune response strategies.

Area of Science:

Immunology
Cell Biology

Background:

Dendritic cells (DC) exhibit heterogeneity, with distinct migratory and resident subpopulations.
Recent research highlights a complex division of labor among DC subsets for antigen presentation in vivo.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the specific roles of different dendritic cell subsets in immune responses.
To understand how DC heterogeneity impacts antigen presentation and immune regulation.

Main Methods:

In vivo studies analyzing antigen presentation by various DC subsets.
Investigation of DC function under both physiological and inflammatory conditions.

Main Results:

Migratory lung and dermal DCs, alongside CD8(+) DCs, are capable of cross-presenting antigens in vivo.

More Related Videos

An Efficient and High Yield Method for Isolation of Mouse Dendritic Cell Subsets

An Efficient and High Yield Method for Isolation of Mouse Dendritic Cell Subsets

Published on: April 18, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Generation of Human Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells from Whole Blood

Generation of Human Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells from Whole Blood

Published on: December 24, 2016

An Efficient and High Yield Method for Isolation of Mouse Dendritic Cell Subsets

An Efficient and High Yield Method for Isolation of Mouse Dendritic Cell Subsets

Published on: April 18, 2016

Migratory DCs transfer antigens to resident DCs in lymph nodes for presentation.

Monocyte-derived DCs play a role in antigen presentation during inflammatory states when other DCs are impaired.

Conclusions:

The dendritic cell network comprises specialized subsets with distinct functions in antigen presentation.
Knowledge of DC subset contributions is vital for designing effective vaccines and understanding immune dynamics.