Chinese origin rhesus macaque major histocompatibility complex class I molecules promiscuously present epitopes from SIV associated with molecules of Indian origin; implications for immunodominance and viral escape.

ABSTRACT: The presentation of identical peptides by different major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules, termed promiscuity, is a controversial feature of T cell-mediated immunity to pathogens. The astounding diversity of MHC-I molecules in human populations, presumably to enable binding of equally diverse peptides, implies promiscuity would be a rare phenomenon. However, if it occurs, it would have important implications for immunity. We screened 77 animals for responses to peptides known to bind MHC-I molecules that were not expressed by these animals. Some cases of supposed promiscuity were determined to be the result of either non-identical optimal peptides or were simply not mapped to the correct MHC-I molecule in previous studies. Cases of promiscuity, however, were associated

SUBMITTER: Maness NJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3156284 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature