title: HLA class I antigen expression in malignant cells: why does it not always correlate with CTL-mediated lysis?
abstract: HLA class I antigen defects are frequently found in malignant cells. They appear to play a role in the clinical course of the disease, probably because they provide tumor cells with a mechanism to escape cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) recognition and destruction. Expression of HLA class I antigens, however, is not always associated with the susceptibility of tumor cells to CTL lysis. Many mechanisms may underlie this finding, including the lack of tumor antigen (TA)-derived peptide presentation by a given HLA class I allospecificity, and/or the expression of immunosuppressive molecules such as HLA-G. These findings emphasize the need to develop probes to measure HLA class I allospecificity-TA peptide complex expression in malignant cells. Furthermore, the evaluation of the role of HLA class I antigens in the interaction of malignant cells with host immune cells should take into account the potential interference of tumor-derived immunomodulators.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York 14263, USA.
authors.forename: Chien-Chung
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campoli
authors.forename: Soldano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I