Antigen-presenting cell

An antigen-presenting cell displays peptide fragments bound to major histocompatibility complex molecules for recognition by T cells. Professional antigen-presenting cells can also provide signals that activate T cells.

Major histocompatibility complex: Cell-surface proteins that bind peptide fragments and present them for recognition by T cells. These molecules carry the peptide fragments displayed by antigen-presenting cells.
Dendritic cell: An immune cell that captures antigens and efficiently activates naïve T cells. Dendritic cells are the principal professional presenters that initiate many T-cell responses.
Vaccine: A preparation that trains the immune system to recognize a pathogen or other target. Vaccines rely on antigen presentation to initiate adaptive immune responses.
MHC class I: A class of molecules that displays intracellular peptides to CD8 T cells. Its usual intracellular-antigen route contrasts with class II presentation of engulfed material.
Antigen processing: The cellular breakdown of proteins into peptides that can be loaded onto major histocompatibility complex molecules. It supplies the fragments that antigen-presenting cells display.
Macrophage: A phagocytic immune cell that engulfs microbes and debris and can present peptides to T cells. Macrophages present material they ingest, especially to T cells in inflamed tissues.
Cancer immunotherapy: Treatments that mobilize or modify immune responses to control cancer. Tumor-antigen presentation can shape T-cell responses targeted by these treatments.
MHC class II: A class of molecules that displays peptides, typically from engulfed material, to CD4 T cells. Its usual extracellular-antigen route contrasts with class I presentation.
T-cell receptor: A receptor on T cells that recognizes a specific peptide bound to a major histocompatibility complex molecule. Its recognition of displayed peptide–MHC complexes gives T cells antigen specificity.
B cell: A lymphocyte that can bind specific antigens, produce antibodies, and present captured peptides to helper T cells. B cells present peptides from antigens captured through their antigen receptors.

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