Authors: Boyle L.H.; Goodall J.C.; Gaston J.S.H.i.l.l.

Source: Current Molecular Medicine, Volume 4, Number 1, February 2004 , pp. 51-58(8)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

The MHC class I molecule, HLA-B27 can be expressed as a number of non-conventional forms, in addition to conventional HLA-B27 heterodimers presenting peptide. This has lead to new avenues of research to explain the association of this molecule with SpA. Surprisingly, HLA-B27 transgenic animal models implicated CD4+ T cells, which conventionally interact with MHC class II molecules, not MHC class I molecules, in the pathogenesis of SpA. One hypothesis to explain these finding is that non-conventional forms of HLA-B27, specifically HLA-B27 homodimers, might mimic MHC class II molecules and be recognised by CD4+ T cells. We investigated whether CD4+ T cells from AS patients can interact with HLA-B27, discovering that indeed CD4+ T cells can interact with various forms of HLA-B27. Here we discuss how such interactions between HLA-B27 and CD4+ T cells could occur in vivo and potential contributions of such interactions to the pathogenesis of SpA.

Keywords: HLA-B27; hypothesis; homodimers; T cells

Document Type: Review article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1566524043479257

Affiliations: 1: Cambridge institute of Medical Research, level 5, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 2XY, UK.

Publication date: 2004-02-01

More about this publication?

• Current Molecular Medicine is an interdisciplinary journal focused on providing the readership with current and comprehensive reviews on fundamental molecular mechanisms of disease pathogenesis, the development of molecular-diagnosis and/or novel approaches to rational treatment. The reviews should be of significant interest to basic researchers and clinical investigators in molecular medicine. Periodically the journal will invite guest editors to devote an issue on a basic research area that shows promise to advance our understanding of the molecular mechanism(s) of a disease or has potential for clinical applications.

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