Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Antigen Presenting Cells01:22

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 Immunity01:26

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 Pathways01:31

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...
Cell-mediated Immune Responses01:40

Cell-mediated Immune Responses

Overview
B Cell Activation and Differentiation01:24

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...
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens01:31

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

From neuroimmune circuits to targeted therapy of chronic pruritus.

Pharmacological reviews·2026
Same author

Epidermal resident memory T cell fitness requires antigen encounter in the skin.

eLife·2025
Same author

The production of the chemokine CCL2 by corneal sensory neurons initiates anti-viral immunity at the cornea and trigeminal ganglion.

Cell reports·2025
Same author

Langerhans cells drive Tfh and B cell responses independent of canonical cytokine signals.

Frontiers in immunology·2025
Same author

Cutaneous T cell immunity.

Nature immunology·2025
Same author

Epidermal Resident Memory T Cell Fitness Requires Antigen Encounter in the Skin.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same journal

A blind spot of human T cell immunology: epitope specificity in secondary lymphoid organs.

Current opinion in immunology·2026
Same journal

Germinal center responses at barrier organ sites.

Current opinion in immunology·2026
Same journal

Ocular sarcoidosis: from clinical signs to targeted interventions.

Current opinion in immunology·2026
Same journal

On or within: spatial determinants of antigen handling in the nasal turbinates.

Current opinion in immunology·2026
Same journal

Decoding the complexity of intestinal immunity with spatial transcriptomics.

Current opinion in immunology·2026
Same journal

Reconsidering the immunological aspects of solid-phase assays for antiphospholipid antibodies detection.

Current opinion in immunology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Purification of the Membrane Compartment for Endoplasmic Reticulum-associated Degradation of Exogenous Antigens in Cross-presentation
12:48

Purification of the Membrane Compartment for Endoplasmic Reticulum-associated Degradation of Exogenous Antigens in Cross-presentation

Published on: August 21, 2017

Antigen presentation by Langerhans cells.

Botond Z Igyártó1, Daniel H Kaplan

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States. botond@umn.edu

Current Opinion in Immunology
|December 19, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Langerhans cells are crucial for skin immunity. This review examines how these specialized dendritic cells (DCs) present antigens to influence T cell responses, particularly CD4 T cell differentiation and CD8 T cell priming.

More Related Videos

Artificial Antigen Presenting Cell (aAPC) Mediated Activation and Expansion of Natural Killer T Cells
13:18

Artificial Antigen Presenting Cell (aAPC) Mediated Activation and Expansion of Natural Killer T Cells

Published on: December 29, 2012

An Efficient and High Yield Method for Isolation of Mouse Dendritic Cell Subsets
09:09

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

Published on: April 18, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 15, 2026

Purification of the Membrane Compartment for Endoplasmic Reticulum-associated Degradation of Exogenous Antigens in Cross-presentation
12:48

Purification of the Membrane Compartment for Endoplasmic Reticulum-associated Degradation of Exogenous Antigens in Cross-presentation

Published on: August 21, 2017

Artificial Antigen Presenting Cell (aAPC) Mediated Activation and Expansion of Natural Killer T Cells
13:18

Artificial Antigen Presenting Cell (aAPC) Mediated Activation and Expansion of Natural Killer T Cells

Published on: December 29, 2012

An Efficient and High Yield Method for Isolation of Mouse Dendritic Cell Subsets
09:09

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

Published on: April 18, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Dermatology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Skin-resident dendritic cells (DCs), including Langerhans cells, are vital for initiating adaptive immune responses in the skin.
  • Different DC subsets are thought to contribute uniquely to immune outcomes.
  • Understanding the specific roles of Langerhans cells in antigen presentation is key to deciphering adaptive immunity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the functional outcomes of antigen presentation by Langerhans cells.
  • To investigate the capacity of Langerhans cells to promote CD4 T cell differentiation in various inflammatory settings.
  • To assess whether Langerhans cells can cross-prime CD8 T cells.

Main Methods:

  • Review of in vivo studies using genetically modified mice with specific DC-subset deficiencies.
  • Analysis of ex vivo experiments utilizing isolated dendritic cells.
  • Focus on functional outcomes related to T cell differentiation and priming.

Main Results:

  • Langerhans cells play a significant role in directing adaptive immune responses originating in the skin.
  • Evidence suggests Langerhans cells can effectively promote CD4 T cell differentiation across different inflammatory contexts.
  • The capacity of Langerhans cells for cross-priming CD8 T cells is an area of ongoing investigation.

Conclusions:

  • Langerhans cells are key players in shaping cutaneous adaptive immunity through their antigen-presenting functions.
  • Their ability to influence CD4 T cell differentiation highlights their importance in immune regulation.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the role of Langerhans cells in CD8 T cell cross-priming.