Control of MHC II antigen presentation by ubiquitination

Curr Opin Immunol. 2013 Feb;25(1):109-14. doi: 10.1016/j.coi.2012.10.008. Epub 2012 Nov 24.

Abstract

MHC II antigen presentation is a critical pathway involved in the activation of the adaptive immune system. Tight regulatory controls are necessary to ensure appropriate MHC II antigen presentation. One mechanism for regulating this pathway is ubiquitination. Ubiquitination has been shown to play a critical role in fine-tuning the regulation of MHC II antigen presentation, with significant roles in antigen receptor internalisation and turnover of MHC II at the cell surface. The importance of ubiquitination is highlighted by bacterial pathogens that hijack the pathway to evade immune recognition. Understanding how ubiquitin E2 and E3 ligases contribute to controlling MHC II antigen presentation will shed light on the critical regulatory controls of this important pathway of immunity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation*
  • Bacterial Infections / immunology*
  • Cytosol / metabolism*
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / immunology
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immune Evasion*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Transport
  • Ubiquitination* / immunology

Substances

  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II