Antigen-presenting cell receptors (APC receptors)

Antigen-presenting cell (APC) receptors are a heterogeneous group of surface proteins found on specialized immune cells such as dendritic cells, macrophages, and B cells (StatPearls, 2023). These receptors, which include Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules and co-stimulatory proteins like CD80 and CD86, are essential for the processing and presentation of antigens to T cells, thereby bridging innate and adaptive immunity (NCBI, 2022). Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs), also reside on APCs and serve to detect conserved microbial motifs, triggering the maturation of the APC and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (UniProt). In clinical practice, these receptors are targeted by various immunotherapies; for instance, CTLA-4-Ig fusion proteins like abatacept bind to CD80/86 to prevent T-cell activation in rheumatoid arthritis (PubChem). Conversely, TLR agonists are utilized as vaccine adjuvants or topical treatments for skin malignancies to enhance local immune surveillance (PubMed). Because these receptors are pivotal for immune self-tolerance, their therapeutic modulation carries significant risks of inducing autoimmunity or cytokine release syndrome (NIH).

Other names

APC receptorsAntigen presentation receptorsMHC and co-stimulatory moleculesPattern recognition receptors (subset)

Modulation of T-cell costimulation through CD80/CD86 blockade or activation of innate immune signaling via Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonism.