title: The Implication and Significance of Beta 2 Microglobulin: A Conservative Multifunctional Regulator.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This review focuses on the current knowledge on the implication and significance of beta 2 microglobulin (β2M), a conservative immune molecule in vertebrate.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data used in this review were obtained from PubMed up to October 2015. Terms of β2M, immune response, and infection were used in the search.
  
  
  METHODS
  Articles related to β2M were retrieved and reviewed. Articles focusing on the characteristic and function of β2M were selected. The exclusion criteria of articles were that the studies on β2M-related molecules.
  
  
  RESULTS
  β2M is critical for the immune surveillance and modulation in vertebrate animals. The dysregulation of β2M is associated with multiple diseases, including endogenous and infectious diseases. β2M could directly participate in the development of cancer cells, and the level of β2M is deemed as a prognostic marker for several malignancies. It also involves in forming major histocompatibility complex (MHC class I or MHC I) or like heterodimers, covering from antigen presentation to immune homeostasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the characteristic of β2M, it or its signaling pathway has been targeted as biomedical or therapeutic tools. Moreover, β2M is highly conserved among different species, and overall structures are virtually identical, implying the versatility of β2M on applications.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora 80045, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: Xiao-Guang
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D018949:Antigens, CD1 / Q000502:physiology; D000071020:Hemochromatosis Protein / Q000032:analysis; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000502:physiology; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018949:Antigens, CD1; C103673:HFE protein, human; D000071020:Hemochromatosis Protein; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin