The Adaptive Immune System: Antigen-Presenting Cells (APCs)

Learning Objectives for "The Adaptive Immune System: Antigen-Presenting Cells (APCs) such as Dendritic Cells, Macrophages, and B-lymphocytes "

After completing this section you should be able to perform the following objectives.

1. Describe the overall function of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) such as dendritic cells, macrophages, and B-lymphocytes in terms of the following:

a. how they "process" exogenous antigens

b. how they "process" endogenous antigens

b. the types of MHC molecule to which they attach peptides

c. the role of proteasomes in the binding of peptides from endogenous antigens by MHC-I molecules.

d. the role of lysosomes in the binding of peptides from exogenous antigens by MHC-II molecules.

e. the type of MHC molecule they use to present peptides to T4-lymphocytes and the type they use to present peptides to T8-lymphocytes.

f. the role of pattern-recognition receptors in the production of co-stimulatory molecules

2. State where immature dendritic cells are located in the body and, once they engulf antigens, where they carry those antigens for presentation to T-lymphocytes.

3. Name the primary type of cell that functions as an antigen-presenting cell to naive T4-lymphocytes and naive T8-lymphocytes.

4. State the role of T4-effector cells in activating macrophages.

5. State the role of T4-effector cells in the proliferation and differentiation of activated B-lymphocytes.

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