MHC class II

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

MHC Class II molecules are found only on a few specialized cell types, including macrophages, dendritic cells and B cells, all of which are professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs).

The peptides presented by class II molecules are derived from extracellular proteins (not cytosolic as in class I); hence, the MHC class II-dependent pathway of antigen presentation is called the endocytic or exogenous pathway.

Loading of class II molecules must still occur inside the cell; extracellular proteins are endocytosed, digested in lysosomes, and bound by the class II MHC molecule prior to the molecule's migration to the plasma membrane.

Structure[edit | edit source]

Like MHC class I molecules, class II molecules are also heterodimers, but in this case consist of two homologous peptides, an α and β chain, both of which are encoded in the MHC.

Because the peptide-binding groove of MHC class II molecules is open at both ends while the corresponding groove on class I molecules is closed at each end, the peptides presented by MHC class II molecules are longer, generally between 15 and 24 amino acid residues long.

Reaction to bacteria[edit | edit source]

Because class II MHC is loaded with extracellular proteins, it is mainly concerned with presentation of extracellular pathogens (for example, bacteria that might be infecting a wound or the blood). Class II molecules interact exclusively with CD4⁺ ("helper") T cells (T_Hs). The helper T cells then help to trigger an appropriate immune response which may include localized inflammation and swelling due to recruitment of phagocytes or may lead to a full-force antibody immune response due to activation of B cells.

Synthesis[edit | edit source]

During synthesis, MHC class II is the result of dimerization of α and β chains, with the assistance of an invariant chain.^[1]

Genes[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

• Histocompatibility+Antigens+Class+II at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
• MHC+Class+II+Genes at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

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