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Class II histocompatibility antigen, beta domain Class II MHC glycoproteins are expressed on the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APC), including macrophages, dendritic cells and B cells. MHC II proteins present peptide antigens that originate extracellularly from foreign bodies such as bacteria. Proteins from the pathogen are degraded into peptide fragments within the APC, which sequesters these fragments into the endosome so they can bind to MHC class II proteins, before being transported to the cell surface. MHC class II receptors display antigens for recognition by helper T cells (stimulate development of B cell clones) and inflammatory T cells (cause the release of lymphokines that attract other cells to site of infection).
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