Veterinary Immunology and Serology

MHC RESTRICTIONS

• The importance of MHC antigens is to present antigen by macrophages or other cells to T lymphocyte for immune response.
• MHC restriction means the antigen (foreign) will be recognized by T lymphocytes only if it is presented in association with self MHC antigen (class I or class II). For example, in case of virus-infected cells, T cytotoxic cell destroy the virus-infected cells (target cells) after recognition of antigen along with MHC -class I.  
• Helper T (CD₄⁺) lymphocytes can recognize antigen presented by antigen presentating cells on their surface along with MHC class II.