title: CITA/NLRC5: A critical transcriptional regulator of MHC class I gene expression.
abstract: Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and class II molecules play essential roles in the development and activation of the human adaptive immune system. An NLR protein, CIITA (MHC class II transactivator) has been recognized as a master regulator of MHC class II gene expression, albeit knowledge about the regulatory mechanism of MHC class I gene expression had been limited. Recently identified MHC class I transactivator (CITA), or NLRC5, also belongs to the NLR protein family and constitutes a critical regulator for the transcriptional activation of MHC class I genes. In addition to MHC class I genes, CITA/NLRC5 induces the expression of β2 -microglobulin, TAP1 and LMP2, essential components of the MHC class I antigen presentation pathway. Therefore, CITA/NLRC5 and CIITA are transcriptional regulators that orchestrate the concerted expression of critical components in the MHC class I and class II pathways, respectively. © 2016 BioFactors, 42(4):349-357, 2016.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, TX.
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Downs
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, TX.
authors.forename: Saptha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vijayan
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, TX.
authors.forename: Tabasum
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sidiq
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, TX.
authors.forename: Koichi S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015870:Gene Expression; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C548042:NLRC5 protein, human
keywords: CIITA; MHC class I; NLR proteins; NLRC5