Atypical MHC class II-expressing antigen-presenting cells: can anything replace a dendritic cell?

T Kambayashi, TM Laufer - Nature Reviews Immunology, 2014 - nature.com
T Kambayashi, TM Laufer
Nature Reviews Immunology, 2014nature.com
Dendritic cells, macrophages and B cells are regarded as the classical antigen-presenting
cells of the immune system. However, in recent years, there has been a rapid increase in the
number of cell types that are suggested to present antigens on MHC class II molecules to
CD4+ T cells. In this Review, we describe the key characteristics that define an antigen-
presenting cell by examining the functions of dendritic cells. We then examine the functions
of the haematopoietic cells and non-haematopoietic cells that can express MHC class II …
Abstract
Dendritic cells, macrophages and B cells are regarded as the classical antigen-presenting cells of the immune system. However, in recent years, there has been a rapid increase in the number of cell types that are suggested to present antigens on MHC class II molecules to CD4+ T cells. In this Review, we describe the key characteristics that define an antigen-presenting cell by examining the functions of dendritic cells. We then examine the functions of the haematopoietic cells and non-haematopoietic cells that can express MHC class II molecules and that have been suggested to represent 'atypical' antigen-presenting cells. We consider whether any of these cell populations can prime naive CD4+ T cells and, if not, question the effects that they do have on the development of immune responses.
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