antigen-presenting cell

noun

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an·ti·gen-pre·sent·ing cell | \ ˈan-ti-jən-pri-ˈzen-tiŋ-

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, -ˌjen- \

plural antigen-presenting cells

Definition of antigen-presenting cell

: any of various cells (such as a dendritic cell, macrophage, or B cell) that take up and process an antigen into a peptide fragment which when displayed at the cell surface in combination with a molecule of the major histocompatibility complex is recognized by and serves to activate cells of the immune system (such as helper T cells or cytotoxic T cells) His images showed interactions between immune cells called antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that specialize in breaking up proteins belonging to an invader, such as a virus, and displaying the protein fragments to T cells, which become activated when they recognize one of the antigens.— Daniel M. Davis … antigen-presenting cells also display fragments of proteins derived from the body's own cells. In this case, the antigen-presenting cells train the T cells to ignore healthy cells that are part of the body.— Denise Faustman —abbreviation APC

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“Antigen-presenting cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antigen-presenting%20cell. Accessed 24 Feb. 2021.

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antigen-presenting cell

noun

Medical Definition of antigen-presenting cell

: any of various cells (as a dendritic cell, macrophage, or B cell) that take up and process an antigen into a peptide fragment which when displayed at the cell surface in combination with histocompatibility antigen is recognized by and serves to activate cells of the immune system (as helper T cells or cytotoxic T cells) In contrast to antibody molecules, which can bind to antigens in solution, T cell receptors recognize antigen only when it is displayed on the surface of an antigen-presenting cell in association with a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen. — Scientific American Medicine Bulletin —abbreviation APC

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