Is it is same way as that of pathogens is presented to T cells i.e. binding with Major histo-compatibility complex (MHC) or Is it different?
Thanks and regards
Anoop
There is no single group as "Environmental Toxins". Environmental toxins could be biological agents such as bacteria, virus, fungi etc. and it could be a chemical substance like Benzene,H2S,CO2,CH4,HCN,MIC etc. It could be volatile substances like petroleum, diesel , cooking gas etc. It could be various kinds of dusts as well .So there is NO single avenue to deal with them .It is the nature of Environmental toxins that determines the way it is to be dealt with by the body.
The MHC complex is a requirement for presentation to the T cells. T cell receptor can not recognize any antigen directly unless the antigen is bound to MHC molecule on another cell surface
While it is true that the Ag receptor/T cell receptor evolved to recognize peptides (foreign or self) in the context of MHC presentation, it is not the only way T cells can become activated or contribute to an immune response. Mitogens (e.g., bacterial SAgs, lectins, PWM), as well as some of the 'environmental' chemical toxins noted previously, can lead to T cell activation and cytokine production independent of traditional TCR-MHC interactions. However, it is only through MHC presentation, in the classical sense, that specificity and adaptive immunity are established.
Yes, as I said earlier that depending on the nature of an environmental toxin, the immune system responds to deal with it. Sometimes to develop a lasting immunity; while some other times to deal with the toxin instantaneously to nullify its adverse effects or to engulf it and remove it from the body, and so on.
That is true, but he is asking about presentation to T cells and I think that the only way for this presentation is through MHC