title: Transcriptional regulation of the MHC class Ib genes HLA-E, HLA-F, and HLA-G.
abstract: The restricted tissue expression of the MHC class Ib molecules HLA-E, HLA-F, and HLA-G has suggested specialized functions and tight transcriptional control of their genes. Transactivation of classical MHC class I genes is mediated by two groups of juxtaposed cis-acting elements, which can be viewed as regulatory modules. The most upstream module consists of the enhancer A and ISRE, and mediates constitutive and cytokine induced expression, whereas the SXY module is important for the constitutive and CIITA-mediated transactivation of MHC class I genes. Nucleotide sequence divergence in these regulatory elements in the promoters of HLA-E, HLA-F, or HLA-G determines their differential responsiveness to NF-kappaB, IRF1, and CIITA-mediated induction. HLA-E is not inducible by NF-kappaB or IRF1, but is responsive to IFN-gamma through an upstream STAT1 binding site. Furthermore, HLA-E is inducible by CIITA through the SXY regulatory module. HLA-F is inducible by NF-kappaB through the kappaB1 site of enhancer A, is responsive to IFN-gamma through the ISRE, and is inducible by CIITA. Both regulatory modules are divergent in HLA-G rendering this gene unresponsive to NF-kappaB, IRF1, and CIITA-mediated induction. This implies a unique regulation of HLA-G transcription amongst the MHC class Ib genes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. gobin@LUMC.nl
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Gobin
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: van den Elsen
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D000097625:HLA-E Antigens
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000097625:HLA-E Antigens; C062341:HLA-F antigens