title: [The role of HLA-E polymorphism in immunological response].
abstract: The HLA-E protein is one of the most extensively studied MHC class Ib antigens and the least polymorphic one compared to other MHC class I molecules. In the human population there have been reported just ten alleles encoding three different peptides. Only two of these alleles, namely HLA-E*0101 and HLA-E*0103, are widely distributed (around 50% each). The proteins encoded by these alleles differ from each other in one amino acid at position 107. In HLA-E*0101 it is arginine and in HLA-E*0103 it is glycine. The difference between these proteins manifests itself in surface expression levels, affinities to leader peptides and thermal stabilities of their complexes.    The HLA-E molecule is a ligand for CD94/NKG2 receptors on NK cells and TCR receptors on NK-CTL (NK-cytotoxic T lymphocyte) cells, so it plays a double role in both innate and adaptive immunity. This paper reviews the knowledge on the role of the HLA-E molecule in the immunological response. Aspects related to polymorphism of the HLA-E gene and the course of several diseases including type I diabetes, ankylosing spondylitis, HCV and HIV infections, nasopharyngeal cancer and recurrent spontaneous abortions, as well as the outcome of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, are presented and discussed in more detail.
authors.affiliation: Instytut Immunologii i Terapii Doświadczalnej im. Ludwika Hirszfelda, Polska Akademia Nauk we Wrocławiu.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwaszko
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bogunia-Kubik
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D055630:Receptors, NK Cell Lectin-Like / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000097625:HLA-E Antigens
chemical_list: D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D055630:Receptors, NK Cell Lectin-Like; D000097625:HLA-E Antigens