title: Epigenetic control in immune function.
abstract: This chapter describes recent advances in our understanding how epigenetic events control immune functions with emphasis on transcriptional regulation of major histocompatibility complex ClassI (MIC-I) and Class II (MHC-II) genes. MHC-I and MHC-II molecules play an essential role in the adaptive immune response by virtue of their ability to present peptides, respectively to CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. Central to the onset of an adequate immune response to pathogens is the presentation of pathogen-derived peptides in the context of MHC-II molecules by antigen presenting cells (APCs) to CD4+ T cells of the immune system. In particular dendritic cells are highly specialized APCs that are capable to activate naïve T cells. Given their central role in adaptive immunity, MHC-I and MHC-II genes are regulated in a tight fashion at the transcriptional level to meet with local requirements of an effective antigen-specific immune response. In these regulatory processes the MHC2TA encoded Class II transactivator (CIITA) plays a crucial role. CIITA is essential for transcriptional activation of all MHC-I genes, whereas it plays an ancillary function in the transcriptional control of MHC-I genes. The focus of this chapter therefore will be on the transcription factors that interact with conserved cis-acting promoter elements and epigenetic mechanisms that modulate cell type-specific regulation of MHC-I, MHC-I, and MHC2TA genes. Furthermore, we will also briefly discuss how genetic and epigenetic mechanisms contribute to T helper cell differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands. pjvdelsen@lumc.nl
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: van den Elsen
authors.forename: Marja C J A
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: van Eggermond
authors.forename: Rutger J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wierda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000166:cytology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C083728:MHC class II transactivator protein; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators