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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...

Tumor Immunotherapy

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.

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...

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...

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response

Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Preparation of Tumor Antigen-loaded Mature Dendritic Cells for Immunotherapy

Preparation of Tumor Antigen-loaded Mature Dendritic Cells for Immunotherapy

Published on: August 1, 2013

Tumor antigen presentation by dendritic cells.

Troels R Petersen¹, Nina Dickgreber, Ian F Hermans

¹Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand.

Critical Reviews in Immunology

|July 30, 2010

Summary

Dendritic cells (DCs) are crucial for stimulating T cell responses against tumors. Enhancing DC function in cancer patients is key for effective anti-tumor immunity and therapy.

Area of Science:

Immunology
Cancer Biology
Cellular Therapy

Background:

Tumor cells poorly stimulate naive T cells, necessitating intermediary cells.
Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent stimulators of T cells and key in anti-tumor immunity.
Evidence suggests DCs are essential for T cell responses to tumor vaccines.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the mechanisms by which DCs elicit T cell responses to tumor antigens.
To identify therapeutic targets for enhancing DC function in cancer.
To explore strategies for reprogramming host or transferred DCs for anti-tumor therapy.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature and evidence from animal models.
Analysis of DC cross-presentation capabilities for tumor antigens.

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Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

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Examination of DC function in cancer patients and in vivo depletion models.

Main Results:

DCs are uniquely equipped for cross-presentation of tumor antigens to CD8+ T cells.
Tumor-infiltrating DCs can present tumor antigens in vitro.
DC dysfunction in cancer patients impairs anti-tumor T cell responses.

Conclusions:

Effective anti-tumor immunity relies on functional DCs to prime T cells.
Therapeutic strategies should focus on reprogramming immature or dysfunctional DCs.
Engaging innate immune cells may enhance DC conditioning for better T cell responses.