ANTIGEN PRESENTING CELLS (APC)

• ABBREVIATION FOR AN ANTIGEN PRESENTING CELLS?

  APC
• WHAT IS AN APC?

  any cell that presents a non-self antigen on their surface
• EXAMPLES OF APCs?

  • infected body cells
  • macrophage that has engulfed or destroyed a pathogen
  • transplanted organ cells
  • cancer cells
• WHY ARE INFECTED BODY CELLS APCs?

  present viral antigen
• WHY ARE MACROPHAGES THAT HAVE ENGULFED/ DESTROYED A PATHOGEN AN APC?

  presents antigens
• WHY ARE TRANSPLANTED ORGAN CELLS APCs?

  have different shaped antigens compared to self-cell ones
• WHY ARE CANCER CELLS APCs?

  have abnormal shaped self-cell antigens