ABSTRACT
Antigen presentation is a complex biological process that is at the root of the basic inner workings of the immune system. This process can determine if a disease such as cancer or a viral infection can survive and fl ourish or be removed from the person’s body, never to return. The antigen presentation system is an essential component of our immune system. Without it we would succumb to the most basic infections, from bacteria to fungi. Pathogens that normally have no effect on us would be deadly. Cells of the immune system are not the only ones capable of antigen presentation. Indeed, this function is the basis of our ability to recognize the difference between self and non-self. This is the fundamental function of our entire immune system. Autoimmune disorders, which are numerous, make use of this pathway to display self-antigens that are inappropriately recognized by the immune system. We must study antigen presentation thoroughly if we want to understand how the immune system works and how it can be manipulated to halt anti-self reactions, destroy tumor cells, or eliminate viral infections. The way the immune system works and the factors that control its function are pivotal to our ability to understand immunity.
