1932

Abstract

The bare lymphocyte syndrome (BLS) is a hereditary immunodeficiency resulting from the absence of major istocompatibility complex class II (MHCII) expression. Considering the central role of MHCII molecules in the development and activation of CD4+ T cells, it is not surprising that the immune system of the patients is severely impaired. BLS is the prototype of a “disease of gene regulation.” The affected genes encode RFXANK, RFX5, RFXAP, and CIITA, four regulatory factors that are highly specific and essential for MHCII genes. The first three are subunits of RFX, a trimeric complex that binds to all MHCII promoters. CIITA is a non-DNA-binding coactivator that functions as the master control factor for MHCII expression. The study of RFX and CIITA has made major contributions to our comprehension of the molecular mechanisms controlling MHCII genes and has made this system into a textbook model for the regulation of gene expression.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1146/annurev.immunol.19.1.331
2001-04-01
2024-10-06
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/content/journals/10.1146/annurev.immunol.19.1.331
Loading
/content/journals/10.1146/annurev.immunol.19.1.331
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Review Article
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error