Abundant empty class II MHC molecules on the surface of immature dendritic cells. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • A monoclonal antibody specific for the empty conformation of class II MHC molecules revealed the presence of abundant empty molecules on the surface of spleen- and bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DC) among various types of antigen-presenting cells. The empty class II MHC molecules are developmentally regulated and expressed predominantly on immature DC. They can capture peptide antigens directly from the extracellular medium and present bound peptides to antigen-specific T lymphocytes. The ability of the empty cell-surface class II MHC proteins to bind peptides and present them to T cells without intracellular processing can serve to extend the spectrum of antigens able to be presented by DC, consistent with their role as sentinels in the immune system.

publication date

  • December 21, 1999

Research

keywords

  • Antigen Presentation
  • Dendritic Cells
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • T-Lymphocytes

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC24771

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0033592853

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1073/pnas.96.26.15050

PubMed ID

  • 10611336

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 96

issue

  • 26