title: Peptide presentation and NK inhibition by HLA-G.
abstract: The expression of the nonclassical MHC class Ib molecule HLA-G is nearly exclusively restricted to the feto-maternal interface during pregnancy. There it probably serves the same physiological functions already known for classical MHC class I molecules; these include peptide presentation, natural killer cell (NK) inhibition and probably also T cell restriction. In this study a comparison between HLA-G and HLA-A2 as far as the amount and complexity of bound peptides is concerned revealed no significant differences. The peptide motif of HLA-G, as determined by analysis of naturally eluted peptides allows the construction of a peptide library that is efficient in binding to HLA-G and thereby confirms the rules of peptide binding to this nonclassical MHC class I molecule. In addition, we demonstrate that the inhibition of NK cells by HLA-G varies remarkably among the NK repertoires of different donors. The function of HLA-G as a survival factor in the development of the fetus during pregnancy is discussed in detail.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Germany. munzc@rockvax.rockefeller.edu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Münz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stevanović
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Rammensee
mesh_terms: D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D010455:Peptides