Which cells in the liver act as antigen presenting cells?

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Multiple Choice

Which cells in the liver act as antigen presenting cells?

In the liver, the cells that act as antigen-presenting cells are the Kupffer cells, the resident macrophages lining the hepatic sinusoids. They constantly sample blood from the portal circulation, ingest pathogens and debris, and process these antigens for presentation. They display peptide fragments on MHC class II to CD4+ helper T cells, providing the necessary co-stimulatory signals to fully activate these T cells. They can also cross-present to CD8+ T cells via MHC class I, contributing to cytotoxic responses when needed. This professional APC role helps bridge innate and adaptive immunity in the liver, a site routinely exposed to gut-derived antigens. Hepatocytes can present endogenous peptides on MHC class I but are not efficient at activating naive T cells via MHC II, so they’re not considered professional APCs. Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and other cell types can present antigens to T cells but do not take on the primary role of antigen presentation like Kupffer cells. Hepatic stellate cells are more involved in vitamin A storage and fibrosis rather than antigen presentation.

In the liver, the cells that act as antigen-presenting cells are the Kupffer cells, the resident macrophages lining the hepatic sinusoids. They constantly sample blood from the portal circulation, ingest pathogens and debris, and process these antigens for presentation. They display peptide fragments on MHC class II to CD4+ helper T cells, providing the necessary co-stimulatory signals to fully activate these T cells. They can also cross-present to CD8+ T cells via MHC class I, contributing to cytotoxic responses when needed. This professional APC role helps bridge innate and adaptive immunity in the liver, a site routinely exposed to gut-derived antigens.

Hepatocytes can present endogenous peptides on MHC class I but are not efficient at activating naive T cells via MHC II, so they’re not considered professional APCs. Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and other cell types can present antigens to T cells but do not take on the primary role of antigen presentation like Kupffer cells. Hepatic stellate cells are more involved in vitamin A storage and fibrosis rather than antigen presentation.

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