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The overlooked “nonclassical” functions of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens in immune and nonimmune cells
Author(s) -
Altomonte Maresa,
Pucillo Carlo,
Maio Michele
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4652(199906)179:3<251::aid-jcp2>3.0.co;2-p
Subject(s) - major histocompatibility complex , antigen , immune system , immunology , mhc class ii , mhc class i , biology , mhc restriction , antigen processing , cd74 , microbiology and biotechnology
Besides their “classical” antigenic peptide‐presenting activity, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens can activate different cellular functions in immune and nonimmune cells. However, this “nonclassical” role and its functional consequences are still substantially overlooked. In this review, we will focus on these alternative functional properties of MHC class II antigens, to reawaken attention to their present and foreseeable immunobiologic and pathogenetic implications. The main issues that will be addressed concern 1) the role of MHC class II molecules as basic components of exchangeable oligomeric protein complexes with intracellular signaling ability; 2) the nonclassical functions of MHC class II antigens in immune cells; 3) the pathogenetic role of MHC class II antigens in inflammatory/autoimmune and infectious disease; and 4) the functional role of MHC class II antigens in solid malignancies. J. Cell. Physiol. 179:251–256, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.