Segregation of MHC class II molecules from MHC class I molecules in the Golgi complex for transport to lysosomal compartments

Abstract

Traffic of MHC molecules dictates the source of peptides that are presented to T cells. The intracellular distribution of MHC class I and class II molecules reflects the dichotomy in presentation of antigen from endogenous and exogenous origin, respectively. In human B lymphoblastoid cells, class I molecules are present in compartments constituting the biosynthetic pathway, whereas class II molecules enter structures related to lysosomes during their biosynthesis.