MHC class I molecules are one of two primary classes of
major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules (the other being
MHC class II) and are found on the cell surface of all nucleated cells in the body. Their function is to display fragments of non-self proteins from within the cell to
cytotoxic T cells; this will trigger an immediate response from the immune system against the particular non-self antigen displayed with the help of MHC class I protein. Because MHC class I molecules present
peptides derived from
cytosolic proteins, the pathway of MHC class I presentation is often called the
cytosolic or
endogenous pathway.