professional antigen presenting cellImported
A cell capable of processing and presenting lipid and protein antigens to T cells in order to initiate an immune response.
Note change of name; nearly all somatic cells can present antigens to T cells via MHC Class I complexes leading to effector responses, but professional antigen presenting cells constitutively express MHC Class II as well as costimulatory molecules, and thus can initiate immune responses via T cells.
Defined bycl
Related Synonyms
APC