Definition of a novel binding site on CD8 cells for a conserved region of the MHC class Ib molecule Qa-1 that regulates IFN-gamma expression.
Natural killer (NK) cells and activated CD8 cells both express cytotoxic activity and produce substantial levels of IFN-gamma in response to viral and bacterial infections. In the case of NK cells, cellular activation and IFN-gamma expression are regulated by an interaction between NK receptors and MHC class Ib molecules, including HLA-E/Qa-1. We have used soluble tetrameric complexes of the murine class Ib molecule Qa-1 to define the significance of this interaction for CD8 cells. We find that all CD8 cells express a receptor for Qa-1 and that ligation of this receptor by Qa-1 results in up-regulation of IFN-gamma production.
Wang
R
R
Department of Cancer Immunology and AIDS, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA.
Ramaswamy
S
S
Hu
D
D
Cantor
H
H
D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D017510:Protein Folding
D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; C032907:Q surface antigens; D007371:Interferon-gamma