ROLE OF CLASS IB ANTIGENS IN OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS

直到最近，I类基因/蛋白质的研究一直集中在Ia类（经典）分子及其在向CD 8 T细胞呈递肽抗原中的作用。 然而，现在有很大的兴趣在非经典的I类分子的研究中发挥了许多重要的和独特的作用，在免疫反应的传染性病原体。 在本研究中，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，我们将重点关注以下I类分子/基因;即Qa-1，mFcRn。 几种方法将被用来描绘他们的功能，其中包括在小鼠中选择性缺乏Ia类分子的免疫反应的分析，I类分子（经典和非经典）在正常和免疫刺激动物的肝细胞中的表达，mFcRn的作用是控制结合这种受体的配体的水平，并在M区的新发现的基因的表征。 该项目将导致理解1）非经典I类分子在对细菌和病毒感染的反应中所起的作用，2）I类分子在正常和患病状态下在肝脏中的表达以及控制其表达的因素，3）M区分子的分子，结构和功能表征，4）以及mFcRn如何可用于增加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.