Increased expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-I genes and aberrant expression of MHC class-II genes in thyroid epithelial cells (TECs) are associated with autoimmune thyroid diseases. Previous studies have shown that methimazole (MMI) reduces MHC class-I expression and inhibits interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma or IFNG as listed in the MGI Database)-induced expression of the MH...

CD4+ T cells have been shown to reject tumor cells with no detectable expression of major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II). However, under certain circumstances, induction of ectopic MHC II expression on tumor cells has been reported.To confirm that CD4+ T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity can be successful in the complete absence of antigen display on the tumor cells themselves, we...

Class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC-II) proteins govern stimulation of adaptive immunity by presenting antigenic peptides to CD4+ T lymphocytes. Many allelic variants of MHC-II exist with implications in peptide presentation and immunity; thus, high-throughput experimental tools for rapid and quantitative analysis of peptide binding to MHC-II are needed. Here, we present an expressio...

Promyelocytic leukemia (PML) nuclear bodies selectively associate with transcriptionally active genomic regions, including the gene-rich major histocompatibility (MHC) locus. In this paper, we have explored potential links between PML and interferon (IFN)-γ-induced MHC class II expression. IFN-γ induced a substantial increase in the spatial proximity between PML bodies and the MHC class II gene...

The highly complex pattern of expression of major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) molecules determines both the immune repertoire during development and subsequently the triggering and the control of immune responses. These distinct functions result from cell type-restricted expression, developmental control and either constitutive or inducible expression of MHC-II genes. Yet, in t...

MHC class I and class II are crucial for the adaptive immune system. Although regulation of MHC class II expression by CIITA has long been recognized, the mechanism of MHC class I transactivation has been largely unknown until the recent discovery of NLRC5/class I transactivator. In this study, we show using Nlrc5-deficient mice that NLRC5 is required for both constitutive and inducible MHC cla...

FTY720 (Fingolimod) is a novel type of immunosuppressive agent inhibiting lymphocyte egress from secondary lymphoid tissues thereby causing peripheral lymphopenia. FTY720 can inhibit macrophage infiltration into inflammatory lesions under pathological conditions. FTY720 has been clinically evaluated for prophylaxis of allograft rejection and treatment of multiple sclerosis, showing promising im...

The Th-2 response to microfilariae of Brugia malayi in BALB/c mice is associated with peritoneal eosinophilia. These eosinophils had an activated hypodense phenotype in vivo and expressed high levels of the class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Interleukin 4 up-regulated the class II MHC, whereas gamma interferon inhibited class II MHC expression on eosinophils.

Immature dendritic cells (DCs) sample their environment for antigens and after stimulation present peptide associated with major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) to naive T cells. We have studied the intracellular trafficking of MHC II in cultured DCs. In immature cells, the majority of MHC II was stored intracellularly at the internal vesicles of multivesicular bodies (MVBs). In co...

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II deficiency is a primary immunodeficiency. Lentiviral vectors are used for gene therapy in a mouse model of this disease. In addition, by a direct genetic correction approach, a diagnostic test to determine which of the four MHC II genes is defective in new MHC II-deficiency patients has been optimized.