Abstract
The expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens is constitutive in professional antigen presenting cells (APCs) but can also be induced by interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) on the majority of the non professional APCs (e.g. fibroblasts). We have recently characterised a new factor called IK which is an efficient inhibitor of IFN-γ induction of MHC class II antigens expression. Here, we demonstrate a novel role for IK in MHC class II expression since over-expression of this protein by stable transfection into human B cells led to a total disappearance of constitutive MHC class II mRNA expression. The class II transactivator (CIITA) is necessary for both constitutive and IFN-γ induced MHC class II expressions. Examination of CIITA mRNA in IK stably transfected clones revealed a marked reduction of CIITA mRNA transcription. Taken together these results demonstrate that the IK protein plays a key role in the constitutive expression of MHC class II antigens and that inhibition induced by IK is upstream of CIITA in this regulatory pathway.
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Vedrenne, J., Assier, E., Pereno, R. et al. Inhibitor (IK) of IFN-γ induced HLA class II antigens expression also inhibits HLA class II constitutive expression in the human Raji B cell line. Oncogene 14, 1453–1461 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1200971
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1200971