Antigen Processing in Autoimmunity and Cancer—Mechanisms and Translational Perspectives
A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 February 2026 | Viewed by 25
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Antigen processing refers to a series of molecular events that result in the presentation of antigenic peptides by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. These events include the cellular synthesis or uptake of protein antigens, their often-stepwise proteolytic degradation, the transport of peptides to sites of MHC complex assembly, chaperone-assisted MHC molecule loading with peptides, and the transport of MHC to the cell surface. Associations between human genetic polymorphisms and numerous autoimmune diseases, as well as anti-infectious immune responses, showcase the variable efficacy and susceptibility to modulation of the antigen processing machinery. This variation implicates polymorphism not only in MHC molecules but also in proteolytic enzymes, such as endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidases (ERAPs). The importance of an unperturbed function of antigen processing for organismal homeostasis is highlighted by downregulation of key elements in this machinery by malignant or virally infected cells. Conversely, understanding of the impact of molecular players in antigen processing can be exploited to modulate immune responses, for example, by enhancing antitumor immunity or attenuating autoimmune responses.
This Special Issue will present a collection of original research articles and reviews that, on the one hand, report and discuss harmful interference with antigen processing and presentation in autoimmunity and cancer and, on the other hand, present leads and approaches to exploiting and manipulating antigen processing to promote favorable enhancement of antitumor immunity and dampening of autoimmune responses.
Prof. Dr. Peter Van Endert
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- major histocompatibility molecule
- antigen processing
- antigen presentation
- protease
- endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase
- antitumor immunity
- autoimmunity
- immunotherapy
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