Modulation of MHC Antigen Expression and Disease

by G. Eric Blair, Craig R. Pringle, D. John Maudsley

Overview

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes are involved in the immune system's response to tumor and infected cells and in generating an immune response. This book brings together basic aspects of the regulation of MHC antigens with important clinical applications (in viral infection, viral oncology, cancer biology and autoimmunity). There is a strong emphasis on situations where MHC expression is modulated (either stimulated or repressed). The book's major themes are: the mechanisms of MHC expression—explored at several levels including the transcription and translation of MHC genes and the insertion of MHC protein molecules into plasma membranes; the effect of cytokines on MHC expression—both in the etiology of certain diseases and in possible immunotherapeutic approaches to disease; and the use of gene therapy to modify MHC expression in cancer cells, and thereby cause tumor rejection. This book will be valuable to researchers and clinicians in molecular biology, immunology, oncology, and virology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521499217
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	11/03/2005
Pages:	460
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.98(d)

About the Author

Blair, G. Eric (Univ of Leeds); Pringle, Craig R. (Univ of Warwick); Maudsley, D. John (Univ of Warwick)

The contributors represent the specialties of immunology, molecular medicine, and clinical oncology. Most are from academic medical centers in the U.K., with others from the U.S., Spain, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Institutions prominently represented include Universitat Autonoma De Barcelona, John Radcliffe Hospital, Univ of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Univ Hospital, Leiden.

Table of Contents

1. General introduction to the MHC Lynda G. Tussey and Andrew J. McMichael; 2. Organisation of the MHC Jiannis Ragoussis; 3. Interactions of cytokines in the regulation of MHC class I and class II antigen expression Ian Todd; 4. Control of MHC class I gene expression Keiko Ozato; 5. Control of MHC class II gene expression Jenny Pan-Yun Ting and Barbara J. Vilen; 6. Modulation of MHC antigen expression by viruses D. John Maudsley; 7. Modulation of MHC antigen expression by retroviruses Douglas V. Faller; 8. Modulation of MHC class I antigen expression in adenovirus expression and transformation G. Eric Blair, Joanne L. Proffitt and Maria E. Blair Zajdel; 9. MHC expression in HPV-associated cervical cancer Jennifer Bartholomew, John M. Tinsley and Peter L. Stern; 10. Inhibition of the cellular response to interferon by hepatitus B virus polymerase Graham R. Foster; 11. Cellular adhesion molecules and MHC antigens in cells infected with Epstein/Barr virus: implications for immune recognition Martin Rowe and Maria G. Masucci; 12. Effect of human cytomegalovirus infection on the expression of MHC class I antigens and adhesion molecules: potential role in immune evasion and immunopathology Jane E. Grundy; 13. Oncogenes and MHC class I expression Lucy T. C. Peltenburg and Peter I. Schrier; 14. Mechanisms of tumour cell killing and the role of MHC antigens in experimental model systems Roger F. L. James; 15. Manipulation of MHC antigens by gene transfection and cytokine stimulation: a possible approach for pre-selection of suitable patients for cytokine therapy Ame Nouri; 16. Overexpression of MHC proteins in pancreatic islets: a link between cytokines, viruses, the breach of tolerance and insulin dependent diabetes mellitus? M. Vives-Pi, N. Somoza, F. Vargas and R. Pujol-Borrell; 17. The role of cytokines in contributing to MHC antigen expression in rheumatoid arthritis Fionula M. Brennan; 18. Expression of an MHC antigen in the central nervous system: an animal model for demyelinating diseases Lionel Feigenbaum, Taduru Sreenath and Gilbert Jay.

Editorial Reviews

"...provides a useful review of MHC molecular and cellular biology and relates these findings to viral, oncological, and autoimmune diseases...for individuals interested in MHC biology in health and in disease, this book provides a timely and up-to-date review." Alice Gottlieb, The Lancet

"This book is a superb summary of the current understanding by some of the leading investigators." David R. Johnson, British Medical Journal

From the Publisher

3 Stars from Doody

This multiauthored monograph addresses a timely topic that has profound implications for the control of many diseases in the future. The authors, most of whom are from the U.K., have provided a valuable service by constructing a centralized source on MHC-modulation from which scientists from disparate biodisciplines can develop a unified perspective. The book would be useful for scientists in genetics, immunogenetics, molecular biology, immunochemistry, and clinical immunology. It is especially strong in the area of the MHC/viral interactions and is broken down into chapters that describe specific viruses and the strategies by which they attempt, sometimes successfully, to intercede in the host immune response by altering cell engineering. The introductory overview chapter on the MHC and its function is excellent, and there is concise presentation of relevant experimental data in several chapters. The monograph suffers from the inevitable time lag for publication in hard cover; unfortunately, only one chapter has notes in proof that enhance the text. Because this is another rapidly changing field in immunology with precipitous movement of its borders, especially in the area of peptide/MHC interactions and viral infection-natural killer cell-MHC interactions, any possible way to update the chapters would have been of great value. Nevertheless, this book is highly recommended to both clinical and basic immunologists, virologists, immunovirologists, molecular biologists, peptide-protein chemists, and immunogeneticists. Venture capitalists should also take note because this is an area that is highly likely to prove fruitful in the development of vaccines and autoimmune diseasemodulating.

John A. Robinson

Reviewer: John A. Robinson, MD (Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine)
Description: This multiauthored monograph addresses a timely topic that has profound implications for the control of many diseases in the future.
Purpose: The authors, most of whom are from the U.K., have provided a valuable service by constructing a centralized source on MHC-modulation from which scientists from disparate biodisciplines can develop a unified perspective.
Audience: The book would be useful for scientists in genetics, immunogenetics, molecular biology, immunochemistry, and clinical immunology.
Features: It is especially strong in the area of the MHC/viral interactions and is broken down into chapters that describe specific viruses and the strategies by which they attempt, sometimes successfully, to intercede in the host immune response by altering cell engineering. The introductory overview chapter on the MHC and its function is excellent, and there is concise presentation of relevant experimental data in several chapters.
Assessment: The monograph suffers from the inevitable time lag for publication in hard cover; unfortunately, only one chapter has "notes in proof" that enhance the text. Because this is another rapidly changing field in immunology with precipitous movement of its borders, especially in the area of peptide/MHC interactions and viral infection-natural killer cell-MHC interactions, any possible way to update the chapters would have been of great value. Nevertheless, this book is highly recommended to both clinical and basic immunologists, virologists, immunovirologists, molecular biologists, peptide-protein chemists, and immunogeneticists. Venture capitalists should also take note because this is an area that is highly likely to prove fruitful in the development of vaccines and autoimmune disease modulating.

Doody's Review Service