In: Biology
1. All can arouse an immune response.
An epitope, also known as antigenic determinant, is the part of an antigen that is recognized by the immune system, specifically by antibodies, B cells, or T cells.
Haptene is a type of antigen that elicits production of antibodies only when combined with another antigenic molecule, such as immunogen.
Polysaccharides or polypeptides associated with the bacterial glycocalyx or capsule function as antigens and initiate adaptive immunity.
Antigen fragments are transported to the surface of the APC, where they will serve as an indicator to other immune cells like MHC complex.
Autoimmune disease occurs when a specific adaptive immune response is mounted against self antigens or auto antigens.
2. T cells must be able to recognize and bind to an MHC protein.
-Most T cells that recognize and bind to MHC+ autoantigens will be deleted
The two populations of T cells have different mechanisms of immune protection, but both bind MHC molecules via their antigen receptors called T cellr eceptors.
Auto-antigens may be processed extracellularly and bind MHC II expressed on the surface of dendritic cells.