Antigen-presenting cell and macrophage (APC and macrophage)

Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and macrophages represent a broad category of immune cells rather than a single molecular target. APCs, which include dendritic cells, macrophages, and B cells, are defined by their ability to capture antigens, process them into peptides, and present them via Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules to T cells (StatPearls, 2023). Macrophages are a specific subset of myeloid cells that function in phagocytosis, cytokine production, and tissue homeostasis, often exhibiting plastic phenotypes ranging from pro-inflammatory M1 to anti-inflammatory M2 states (Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2017). While these cells are frequently described as targets in immunotherapy, they represent a cellular population rather than a single molecular entity like a protein or receptor. Therapeutic strategies involving these cells typically focus on specific surface receptors, such as CD40 or CSF1R, or intracellular pathways like the STING or TLR pathways to modulate their activity (NCBI, 2021). In oncology, for instance, drugs may aim to reprogram tumor-associated macrophages from an immunosuppressive to an immunostimulatory state to enhance anti-tumor immunity. Because the term antigen-presenting cells and macrophages encompasses a wide array of distinct cell types and molecular pathways, it is considered a broad biological category rather than a specific druggable target.

Other names

Professional antigen-presenting cellAPCMononuclear phagocytePhagocytic cell

Modulation of immune cell phenotype, recruitment, or activation through specific surface receptors (e.g., CSF1R, CD40) or intracellular signaling pathways (e.g., TLRs).