The expanding role of murine class Ib MHC in the development and activation of Natural Killer cells

• Published in: Molecular immunology Vol. 115; pp. 31 - 38
• Main Authors: Goodall, Katharine J., Nguyen, Angela, Sullivan, Lucy C., Andrews, Daniel M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2019
• Subjects: Animals; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I - immunology; HLA Antigens - immunology; Humans; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Major histocompatibility complex; Natural killer cell; Natural killer cell; Major histocompatibility complex
• ISSN: 0161-5890; 1872-9142
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2018.05.001

•The murine class Ib MHC contains approximately 30 genes within the Q, T and M families.•Relatively few of these genes have ben characterised in terms of their immunological function.•Recent evidence has suggested that the murine class Ib MHC may be a source of ligands for NK cell receptors. Major Histocompatibility Complex-I (MHC-I) molecules can be divided into class Ia and class Ib, with three distinct class Ib families found in the mouse. These families are designated as Q, T and M and are largely unexplored in terms of their immunological function. Among the class Ib MHC, H2-T23 (Qa-1b) has been a significant target for Natural Killer (NK) cell research, owing to its homology with the human class Ib human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-E. However, recent data has indicated that members of the Q and M family of class Ib MHC also play a critical role in the development and regulation NK cells. Here we discuss the recent advances in the control of NK cells by murine class Ib MHC as a means to stimulate further exploration of these molecules.