Stable expression of MHC class I heavy chain/HLA-DO complexes at the plasma membrane

✍ Scribed by Marcel van Lith; Marieke van Ham; Jacques Neefjes

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 180 KB
• Volume: 33
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0014-2980
• DOI: 10.1002/eji.200323472

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II molecules present antigenic fragments to the immune system. MHC‐like chaperones, like HLA‐DM, HLA‐DO and tapasin support peptide loading. HLA class I heavy chains require association with β2‐microglobulin and peptide for endoplasmic reticulum (ER) exit. Likewise, HLA‐DO is only able to leave the ER by association to DM. Here we show that HLA‐DO and free MHC class I heavy chains associate into a stable complex early during biosynthesis and are expressed at the plasma membrane as a complex. These DO/heavy chain complexes are found on DO‐transfected cells and on low amounts on human B cells.