A medical student playing softball chased the ball through a field populated with patches of poison ivy. The student's skin came in contact with the poisonous plant. Which of the following cells processes and presents the plant antigen to initiate the immune response of the skin?
A) T helper cell
B) cytotoxic T lymphocyte
C) plasma cell
D) Langerhans cell
E) T reg cell

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Langerhans cells are specialized immune cells found in the skin that are responsible for processing and presenting antigens (such as those from the poison ivy plant) to activate an immune response. T helper cells, cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and plasma cells are involved in different aspects of the immune response, but are not directly responsible for antigen presentation in the skin. T reg cells are regulatory T cells that help control the immune response, but are not directly involved in antigen presentation.

A Medical Student Playing Softball Chased the Ball Through a Field