Antigen
|
|
An antigen is a molecule that stimulates the production of antibodies. Usually, it is a protein or a polysaccharide, but can be any type of molecule, including small molecules (haptens) coupled to a protein (carrier).
| Contents |
Types of antigens
- Immunogen - Any substance that provokes the immune response when introduced into the body. An immunogen is always a macromolecule (protein, polysaccharide). Its ability to provoke the immune response depends on its foreignness to the host, molecular size, chemical composition and heterogeneity (e.g. different amino acids in a protein).
- Tolerogen - An antigen that invokes a specific immune non-responsiveness due to its molecular form. If its molecular form is changed, a tolerogen can become an immunogen.
- Allergen - An allergen is a substance that causes the allergic reaction. It can be ingested, inhaled, injected or comes into contact with skin.
Cells present their antigens to the environment via a histocompatibility molecule. Depending on the antigen presented and the type of the histocompatibility molecule, several types of immune cells can become activated.
Origin of antigens
We can also classify antigens according to their origin.
Exogenous antigens
Exogenous antigens are antigens that have entered the body form the outside, for example by inhalation, ingestion, or injection. By endocytosis or phagocytosis, these antigens are taken into the antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and processed into fragments. APCs then present the fragments to T helper cells (CD4+) by the use of class II histocompatibility molecules on their surface. Some T cells are specific for the peptide:MHC complex. They become activated and start to secrete cytokines. Cytokines are substances that can activate cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), antibody-secreting B cells, macrophages and other cells.
Endogenous antigens
Endogenous antigens are antigens that have been generated within the cell, as a result of normal cell metabolism, or because of viral or intracellular bacterial infection. The fragments are then presented on the cell surface in the complex with class I histocompatibility molecules. If an activated cytotoxic CD8+ T cells recognize them, the T cells begin to secrete different toxins that cause the lysis or apoptosis of the infected cell. In order to keep the cytotoxic cells from killing cells just for presenting self-proteins, self-reactive T cells are deleted from the repertoire as a result of central tolerance (also known as negative selection which occurs in the thymus). Only those CTL that do not react to self-peptides that are presented in the thymus in the context of MHC class I molecules are allowed to enter the bloodstream.
There is an exception to the exogenous/endogenous antigen paradigm, called cross-presentation.
Tumor antigens
Tumor antigens are those antigens that are presented by the MHC I molecules on the surface of tumor cells. These antigens can sometimes be presented only by tumor cells and never by the normal ones. In this case, they are called tumor-specific antigens and typically result from a tumor specific mutation. More common are antigens that are presented by tumor cells and normal cells, and they are called tumor-associated antigens. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes that recognized these antigens may be able to destroy the tumor cells before they proliferate or metastasize.
Tumor antigens can also be on the surface of the tumor in the form of, for example, a mutated receptor, in which case they will be recognized by B cells.
| Immune system |
| Humoral immune system - Cellular immune system - Lymphatic system |
| White blood cells - B cells - Antibodies - Antigen (MHC) |
| Lymphocytes: T cells (Cytotoxic & Helper) - B cells (Plasma cells & Memory B cells) |
es:Antígeno fr:Antigène it:Antigene ja:抗原 nl:Antigeen pl:Antygen ro:Antigen sv:Antigen he:אנטיגן zh:抗原