A cell capable of processing and presenting lipid and protein antigens to T cells in order to initiate an immune response. [ http://zfin.org/ZDB-PUB-070221-3 ]
Synonyms: APC
Term information
- CL:0000145
- TAO:0009088
cell_slim
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 constimulatory molecules, and thus can initiate immune responses via T cells.