Fol. Biol. 2004, 50, 29-31
Monoclonal Antibody Produced against Bovine MHC Class I Antigens
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes encode cell glycoproteins that bind and present antigenic peptides to T cells. The analysis of MHC gene expression, as the key molecule of the immune system, is thus an essential component of studies of immune responses and susceptibility to diseases. The MHC class I molecules present endogenously synthetized peptides to CD8+ cytotoxic T cells (York and Rock, 1996) and these molecules (MHC I) are also recognized by inhibitory receptors of natural killer cells (Lanier, 1998). The "classical" MHC class I molecules of man and other studied species are expressed on most nucleated cells (York and Rock, 1996). They consist of heterodimers of highly polymorphic α chains (Mr 44 kDa) non-covalently associated with the invariant β2-microglobulin subunit (Mr 12 kDa) (Ploegh et al., 1981).
Funding
This work was supported by grants VEGA 2/3045/03 and APVT 51-01-65-02.
References
Copyright
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