ROLE OF CLASS IB ANTIGENS IN OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS

直到最近，对I类基因/蛋白的研究主要集中在Ia类(经典)分子及其在CD8T细胞递呈多肽抗原中的作用。然而，非经典的I类分子在感染性病原体的免疫应答中扮演着许多重要而独特的角色，目前对其的研究引起了极大的兴趣。在这篇论文中，我们将描述和剖析几个非经典I类分子的功能。基于我们小组的专业知识，我们将重点研究以下I类分子/基因；即。Qa-1、mFcRn.将用几种方法来描述它们的功能，包括分析选择性缺乏Ia类分子的小鼠的免疫反应，正常和免疫刺激动物肝细胞中I类分子(经典和非经典)的表达，mFcRn的作用是控制与该受体结合的配体的水平，以及M区新发现的基因的特征。该项目将有助于了解1)非经典I类分子在细菌和病毒感染反应中所起的作用，2)I类分子在正常和疾病状态下在肝脏中的表达及其控制因素，3)M区分子的分子、结构和功能特征，4)mFcRn如何用于提高细胞因子的治疗效率。

The study of class I genes/proteins up until recently has focused on class Ia (classical) molecules and their role in presentation of peptide antigens to CD8 T cells. However, there is now great interest in the study of nonclassical class I molecules which play many important and unique roles in the immune response to infectious agents. In this grant we will characterize and dissect the function of several nonclassical class I molecules. Based on the expertise of our group, we will focus on the following class I molecules/genes; viz. Qa-1, mFcRn. Several approaches will be used to delineate their function which include the analysis of the immune response in mice selectively lacking class Ia molecules, the expression of class I molecules (classical and nonclassical) in hepatocytes of normal and immunostimulated animals, the role of the mFcRn is controlling the level of ligands which bind this receptor, and a characterization of newly discovered genes in the M region. This project will lead to an understanding of 1) the role that nonclassical class I molecules play in the response to bacterial and viral infection, 2) the expression of class I molecules in the liver in normal and diseased states together with the factors that control their expression, 3) a molecular, structural and functional characterization of M region molecules, 4) and how the mFcRn can be used to increase the therapeutic efficiency of cytokines.