title: NF-Y and the immune response: Dissecting the complex regulation of MHC genes.
abstract: Nuclear Factor Y (NF-Y) was first described as one of the CCAAT binding factors. Although CCAAT motifs were found to be present in various genes, NF-Y attracted a lot of interest early on, due to its role in Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) gene regulation. MHC genes are crucial in immune response and show peculiar expression patterns. Among other conserved elements on MHC promoters, an NF-Y binding CCAAT box was found to contribute to MHC transcriptional regulation. NF-Y along with other DNA binding factors assembles in a stereospecific manner to form a multiprotein scaffold, the MHC enhanceosome, which is necessary but not sufficient to drive transcription. Transcriptional activation is achieved by the recruitment of yet another factor, the class II transcriptional activator (CIITA). In this review, we briefly discuss basic findings on MHCII transcription regulation and we highlight NF-Y different modes of function in MHCII gene activation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Nuclear Factor Y in Development and Disease, edited by Prof. Roberto Mantovani.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; Department of Biology, University of Crete, 71409 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikoleta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sachini
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; Department of Biology, University of Crete, 71409 Heraklion, Crete, Greece. Electronic address: papamath@imbb.forth.gr.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Papamatheakis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023081:CCAAT-Binding Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D023081:CCAAT-Binding Factor; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
keywords: MHCII; NF-Y; immune response; transcriptional regulation