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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...

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.

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...

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Use of Single Chain MHC Technology to Investigate Co-agonism in Human CD8+ T Cell Activation

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Published on: February 28, 2019

Studying MHC class I peptide loading and exchange in vitro.

Marlene Bouvier¹

¹Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA. mbouvier@uic.edu.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)

|January 19, 2013

Summary

Researchers developed a cell-free system to study how the peptide-loading complex (PLC) selects peptides for MHC class I molecules, crucial for immune responses against viruses and tumors.

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A High Throughput MHC II Binding Assay for Quantitative Analysis of Peptide Epitopes

A High Throughput MHC II Binding Assay for Quantitative Analysis of Peptide Epitopes

Published on: March 25, 2014

Area of Science:

Immunology
Molecular Biology
Biochemistry

Background:

MHC class I molecules present peptides in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via the peptide-loading complex (PLC).
The PLC ensures robust CD8+ T-cell responses against viral infections and tumors.
Understanding peptide selection by the PLC is vital for immunology and cancer research.

Purpose of the Study:

To describe methods for creating a cell-free system to study MHC class I peptide loading.
To provide a tool for detailed biochemical and mechanistic investigations of peptide selection.

Main Methods:

Reconstitution of MHC class I molecules with tapasin in a cell-free system.
Development of practical procedures for generating the reconstituted complex.

Main Results:

A versatile cell-free system involving MHC class I and tapasin was successfully generated.
This system enables in vitro studies of peptide loading and exchange mechanisms.

Conclusions:

The described cell-free system is a valuable tool for molecular-level studies of the peptide-loading complex.
This research facilitates a deeper understanding of antigen presentation and immune surveillance.