Reith Walter, LeibundGut-Landmann Salomé, Waldburger Jean-Marc
Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva Medical School, Centre Médical Universitaire, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, CH-1211, Geneva, Switzerland.
Nat Rev Immunol. 2005 Oct;5(10):793-806. doi: 10.1038/nri1708.
MHC class II molecules are pivotal for the adaptive immune system, because they guide the development and activation of CD4+ T helper cells. Fulfilling these functions requires that the genes encoding MHC class II molecules are transcribed according to a strict cell-type-specific and quantitatively modulated pattern. This complex gene-expression profile is controlled almost exclusively by a single master regulatory factor, which is known as the class II transactivator. As we discuss here, differential activation of the three independent promoters that drive expression of the gene encoding the class II transactivator ultimately determines the exquisitely regulated pattern of MHC class II gene expression.
MHC II类分子对于适应性免疫系统至关重要，因为它们指导CD4 +辅助性T细胞的发育和激活。要实现这些功能，就要求编码MHC II类分子的基因按照严格的细胞类型特异性和定量调节模式进行转录。这种复杂的基因表达谱几乎完全由单一的主调节因子控制，该因子被称为II类反式激活因子。正如我们在此所讨论的，驱动II类反式激活因子编码基因表达的三个独立启动子的差异激活最终决定了MHC II类基因表达的精确调控模式。
