CIITA (MHC class II transactivator)

Mice lacking the MHC class II transactivator (CIITA) show tissue-specific impairment of MHC class II expression.

CIITA activates the expression of multiple genes involved in antigen presentation and it is believed to be required for both constitutive and IFN gamma-inducible expression of these genes. To understand the role of CIITA in vivo, we have used gene targeting to generate mice that lack CIITA. CIITA-deficient (-/-) mice do not express conventional MHC class II molecules on the surface of splenic B...

Deregulated MHC Class II Transactivator

Transcription by Lytic Transactivator Zta Expression through Inhibition of CIITA Down-Regulation of MHC Class II

The dual function of the MHC class II transactivator CIITA against HTLV retroviruses.

The AIR-1 gene product CIITA is the master regulator of MHC class II gene expression. This makes CIITA a crucial element for triggering antigen presentation to CD4+ T cells and thus the cascade of events leading to an efficient adaptive immune response. Recently we discovered that CIITA is also endowed with the capacity to directly inhibit both HIV-1 and HTLV retroviruses in infected cells by b...

Degradation, Promoter Recruitment and Transactivation Mediated by the Extreme N-Terminus of MHC Class II Transactivator CIITA Isoform III.

Multiple relationships between ubiquitin-proteasome mediated protein turnover and transcriptional activation have been well documented, but the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. One way to induce degradation is via ubiquitination of the N-terminal α-amino group of proteins. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II transactivator CIITA is the master regulator of MHC c...