Review Note

monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells
- all phagocytic cells that gobble up pathogens, present {{c1::antigens}}, and release {{c2::cytokines}}
*{{c2::cytokines}}: tiny molecules that attract other immune cells to the area

- {{c4::monocytes}} only circulate in blood 

- some {{c4::monocytes}} migrate into tissues and differentiate into {{c3::macrophages}} → {{c3::macrophages}} remain in tissues 

- dendritic cells are prototypical {{c5::antigen presenting}} cells 
→ found in sites in contact with most external {{c6::antigens}} like skin epithelium, or gastrointestinal mucosa


- when dendritic cells are young and immature → excellent at {{c7::phagocytosis}}, constantly eating large amounts of protein found in interstitial fluid

- when a dendritic cell phagocytoses a pathogen → they mature → destroy pathogen and break up its proteins into short {{c8::amino acid chains}} → dendritic cells move through {{c10::lymph}} to nearest lymph node → antigen presentation of the amino acid chains to {{c9::T cells}}