The bare lymphocyte syndrome and the regulation of MHC expression.
The bare lymphocyte syndrome (BLS) is a hereditary immunodeficiency resulting from the absence of major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII) expression. Considering the central role of MHCII molecules in the development and activation of CD4(+) T cells, it is not surprising that the immune system of the patients is severely impaired. BLS is the prototype of a "disease of gene regulation." The affected genes encode RFXANK, RFX5, RFXAP, and CIITA, four regulatory factors that are highly specific and essential for MHCII genes. The first three are subunits of RFX, a trimeric complex that binds to all MHCII promoters. CIITA is a non-DNA-binding coactivator that functions as the master control factor for MHCII expression. The study of RFX and CIITA has made major contributions to our comprehension of the molecular mechanisms controlling MHCII genes and has made this system into a textbook model for the regulation of gene expression.
Jeantet Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Geneva Medical School, 1 rue Michel-Servet, Geneva 4, 1211 Switzerland. Walter.Reith@medecine.unige.ch
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D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology*; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D005808:Genes, Recessive; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D023421:Models, Animal; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D021122:Protein Subunits; D000071701:Regulatory Factor X Transcription Factors; D016511:Severe Combined Immunodeficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; C083728:MHC class II transactivator protein; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D021122:Protein Subunits; C093524:RFX5 protein, human; C117892:RFXANK protein, human; C413004:RFXAP protein, human; D000071701:Regulatory Factor X Transcription Factors; C498802:Rfxap protein, mouse; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors