RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Regulation of MHC class II expression by interferon-gamma mediated by the transactivator gene CIITA
JF Science
JO Science
FD American Association for the Advancement of Science
SP 106
OP 109
DO 10.1126/science.8016643
VO 265
IS 5168
A1 Steimle, V
A1 Siegrist, CA
A1 Mottet, A
A1 Lisowska-Grospierre, B
A1 Mach, B
YR 1994
UL http://science.sciencemag.org/content/265/5168/106.abstract
AB Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II genes are expressed constitutively in only a few cell types, but they can be induced in the majority of them, in particular by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). The MHC class II transactivator gene CIITA is defective in a form of primary MHC class II deficiency. Here it is shown that CIITA expression is controlled and induced by IFN-gamma. A functional CIITA gene is necessary for class II induction, and transfection of CIITA is sufficient to activate expression of MHC class II genes in class II-negative cells in the absence of IFN-gamma. CIITA is therefore a general regulator of both inducible and constitutive MHC class II expression.