The unconventional role of HLA-E: The road less traveled.

Emma J Grant, Andrea T Nguyen, Christian A Lobos, Christopher Szeto, Demetra S M Chatzileontiadou, Stephanie Gras

Journal: Molecular immunology 2020;120():101-112

PMID: 32113130

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

Histocompatibility Leukocyte Antigens, or HLAs, are one of the most polymorphic molecules in humans. This high degree of polymorphism endows HLA molecules with the ability to present a vast array of peptides, an essential trait for responding to ever-evolving pathogens. Unlike classical HLA molecules (HLA-Ia), some non-classical HLA-Ib molecules, including HLA-E, are almost monomorphic. Several studies show HLA-E can present self-peptides originating from the leader sequence of other HLA molecules, which signals to our immune system that the cell is healthy. Therefore, it was traditionally thought that the chief role of HLA-E in the body was in immune surveillance. However, there is emerging evidence that HLA-E is also able to present pathogen-derived peptides to the adaptive immune system, namely T cells, in a manner that is similar to classical HLA-Ia molecules. Here we describe the early findings of this less conventional role of HLA-E in the adaptive immune system and its importance for immunity.

Address: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2020.02.011

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MeSH Terms: Adaptive Immunity, Amino Acid Sequence, Antigen Presentation, Binding Sites, Cytomegalovirus Infections, Epstein-Barr Virus Infections, HIV Infections, HLA-A2 Antigen, Histocompatibility Antigens Class I, Humans, Immunologic Surveillance, Killer Cells, Natural, Models, Molecular, Polymorphism, Genetic, Protein Conformation, Salmonella Infections, Sequence Homology, Amino Acid, T-Lymphocytes, Tuberculosis, HLA-E Antigens