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HLA-DM and the MHC class II antigen presentation pathway

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Abstract

The MHC class II antigen processing pathway provides a mechanism to selectively present peptides generated in the endosomal compartments of antigen presenting cells to CD4+ T cells. Transport of newly synthesized class II molecules to the endosomal pathway requires the function of an accessory protein, invariant chain, which contains a region that interacts directly with the class II peptide binding site. Release of invariant chain and peptide loading by class II molecules are facilitated by a second accessory protein, HLA-DM. This MHC-encoded membrane protein catalyzes peptide exchange reactions, influencing the repertoire of peptides that are available for recognition by T cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 30322, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Peter E. Jensen, Dominique A. Weber, Wesley P. Thayer, Xinjian Chen & Chin T. Dao

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  1. Peter E. Jensen
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  2. Dominique A. Weber
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  3. Wesley P. Thayer
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  4. Xinjian Chen
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Correspondence to Peter E. Jensen.

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Jensen, P.E., Weber, D.A., Thayer, W.P. et al. HLA-DM and the MHC class II antigen presentation pathway. Immunol Res 20, 195–205 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02790403

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