title: Structure, function, and disease association of HLA-B27.
abstract: The specificity of antigen presentation by HLA-B27 and its modulation by subtype polymorphism can be understood from knowledge of the three-dimensional structure of this molecule and from biochemical analysis of bound peptides. These studies reveal the basis for the sharing of T cell determinants that might be critical to linkage of multiple subtypes to spondyloarthropathies. The mechanism of this association remains unknown, but involvement of T lymphocytes and HLA-B27 on antigen-presenting cells appears likely. Thus, a direct link between peptide presentation by HLA-B27 and its role in disease is emerging.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biologia Severo Ochoa, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, Spain.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: López de Castro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016918:Arthritis, Reactive / Q000276:immunology; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000276:immunology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen