HLA-E and HLA-E-bound peptides: recognition by subsets of NK and T cells.
In humans, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules comprise the classical (class Ia) human leukocyte antigens (HLA)-A, -B, and -C, and the non-classical (class Ib) HLA-E, -F, -G and -H (HFE) molecules. The best-characterized MHC class Ib molecule is HLA-E. HLA-E was first described as a non-polymorphic ligand of the CD94/NKG2 receptors expressed mainly by natural killer (NK) cells and its role was thus confined to the regulation of NK cell function. Therefore, interaction of HLA-E with the CD94/NKG2 receptors can result in either inhibition or activation of NK cells, depending on the peptide presented and on the NKG2 receptor CD94 is associated with. Thus, CD94/NKG2A functions as an inhibitory receptor, whereas CD94/NKG2C functions as an activating receptor. However, recent evidences obtained by our group and others indicated that HLA-E represents a novel restriction element for ab T-cell receptor (TCR)-mediated recognition. Although HLA-E displays a selective preference for nonameric peptides derived from the leader sequences of various HLA class I alleles, several reports showed that it can also present "non-canonical" peptides derived from both stress-related and pathogen-associated proteins. Because HLA-E displays binding specificity for innate CD94/NKG2 receptors but also has the features of an antigen-presenting molecule--including the ability to be recognized by ab T cells--it does appear that this MHC class Ib molecule plays an important role in both natural and acquired immune responses.
Pietra
Gabriella
G
Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale and Centro di Eccellenza per le Ricerche Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy.
Romagnani
Chiara
C
Moretta
Lorenzo
L
Mingari
Maria Cristina
MC
D000818:Animals; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000737:chemistry*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C / Q000235:genetics; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D / Q000235:genetics; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D011485:Protein Binding; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D000097625:HLA-E Antigens
D006680:HLA Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D; D010455:Peptides; D000097625:HLA-E Antigens