Anatomy

Antigen-Presenting Cells

A heterogeneous group of immunocompetent cells that mediate the cellular immune response by processing and presenting antigens to the T-cells. Traditional antigen-presenting cells include MACROPHAGES; DENDRITIC CELLS; LANGERHANS CELLS; and B-LYMPHOCYTES. FOLLICULAR DENDRITIC CELLS are not traditional antigen-presenting cells, but because they hold antigen on their cell surface in the form of IMMUNE COMPLEXES for B-cell recognition they are considered so by some authors.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A heterogeneous group of immunocompetent cells that mediate the cellular immune response by processing and presenting antigens to the T-cells. Traditional antigen-presenting cells include MACROPHAGES; DENDRITIC CELLS; LANGERHANS CELLS; and B-LYMPHOCYTES. FOLLICULAR DENDRITIC CELLS are not traditional antigen-presenting cells, but because they hold antigen on their cell surface in the form of IMMUNE COMPLEXES for B-cell recognition they are considered so by some authors.

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Synonyms

11 entry terms
  • Accessory Cell, Immunologic
  • Accessory Cells, Immunologic
  • Antigen-Presenting Cell
  • Cell, Immunologic Accessory
  • Cells, Immunologic Accessory
  • Immunologic Accessory Cell
  • Immunologic Accessory Cells
  • Antigen Presenting Cell
  • Antigen Presenting Cells
  • Cell, Antigen-Presenting
  • Cells, Antigen-Presenting

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

15 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings chemistry, classification, cytology, drug effects, enzymology, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, parasitology, pathology, physiology, radiation effects, transplantation, ultrastructure, virology.

MeSH Record

History Note

85

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Antigenic Determinants (1970-1984)
  • Antigens, Immune Response (1981-1984)
  • Lymphocyte Transformation (1969-1984)
  • T Lymphocytes (1973-1984)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. A11w.066w
  2. A15.382w.066w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

QW 568

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Antigen-Presenting Cells. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D000938. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D000938
  2. Antigen-Presenting Cells. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antigen-presenting_cell
  3. Antigen-Presenting Cells. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1047791