Pathway: Antigen Presentation: Folding, assembly and peptide loading of class I MHC
Reactions in pathway: Antigen Presentation: Folding, assembly and peptide loading of class I MHC :
Antigen Presentation: Folding, assembly and peptide loading of class I MHC
Unlike other glycoproteins, correct folding of MHC class I molecules is not sufficient to trigger their exit from the ER, they exit only after peptide loading. Described here is the process of antigen presentation which consists of the folding, assembly, and peptide loading of MHC class I molecules. The newly synthesized MHC class I Heavy Chain (HC) is initially folded with the help of several chaperones (calnexin, BiP, ERp57) and then binds with Beta-2-microglobulin (B2M). This MHC:B2M heterodimer enters the peptide loading complex (PLC), a multiprotein complex that includes calreticulin, endoplasmic reticulum resident protein 57 (ERp57), transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) and tapasin. Peptides generated from Ub-proteolysis are transported into the ER through TAP. These peptides are further trimmed by ER-associated aminopeptidase (ERAP) and loaded on to MHC class I molecules. Stable MHC class I trimers with high-affinity peptide are transported from the ER to the cell surface by the Golgi apparatus.
Adaptive immunity refers to antigen-specific immune response efficiently involved in clearing the pathogens. The adaptive immune system is comprised of B and T lymphocytes that express receptors with remarkable diversity tailored to recognize aspects of particular pathogens or antigens. During infection, dendritic cells (DC) which act as sentinels in the peripheral tissues recognize and pick up the pathogen in the form of antigenic determinants and then process these antigens and present them to T cells. These T cells of appropriate specificity respond to the antigen, and either kill the pathogen directly or secrete cytokines that will stimulate B lymphocyte response. B cells provide humoral immunity by secreting antibodies specific for the pathogen or antigen.
Humans are exposed to millions of potential pathogens daily, through contact, ingestion, and inhalation. Our ability to avoid infection depends on the adaptive immune system and during the first critical hours and days of exposure to a new pathogen, our innate immune system.