Antigen presentation to naive CD4 T cells in the lymph node

Nat Immunol. 2003 Aug;4(8):733-9. doi: 10.1038/ni957.

Abstract

Although the presentation of peptide-major histocompatibility complex class II (pMHC class II) complexes to CD4 T cells has been studied extensively in vitro, knowledge of this process in vivo is limited. Unlike the in vitro situation, antigen presentation in vivo takes place within a complex microenvironment in which the movements of antigens, antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and T cells are governed by anatomic constraints. Here we review developments in the areas of lymph node architecture, APC subsets and T cell activation that have shed light on how antigen presentation occurs in the lymph nodes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation / immunology*
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Lymph Nodes / immunology*

Substances

  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II