PMID- 15182323
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20050106
LR  - 20051116
IS  - 0960-7420 (Print)
IS  - 0960-7420 (Linking)
VI  - 31
IP  - 3
DP  - 2004 Jun
TI  - Human MHC class I chain related (MIC) genes: their biological function and 
      relevance to disease and transplantation.
PG  - 105-14
AB  - Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain related (MIC) molecules show 
      homology with classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules, but they do not 
      combine with beta2 microglobulin, do not bind peptide and are not expressed on 
      normal circulating lymphocytes. In response to stress, MIC proteins are expressed 
      on the cell surface of freshly isolated gastric epithelium, endothelial cells and 
      fibroblasts and engage the activating natural killer cell receptor NKG2D, which 
      is found on many cells within the immune system. Despite the highly polymorphic 
      nature of MIC genes, only one polymorphic position has been identified that 
      appears to affect the binding of NKG2D. Alleles with a methionine at codon 129 
      have a 10-50-fold greater capacity to complex NKG2D than alleles with a valine at 
      this position. Renal and pancreatic grafts with evidence of both acute and 
      chronic rejection have been shown to express MIC proteins, and anti-MIC 
      antibodies have been identified in the serum of these patients. Some MIC 
      molecules which are expressed by tumours appear to shed and solubilize in plasma. 
      This soluble form of MIC engages cells expressing NKG2D, rendering them inactive, 
      and impairs tumour cytolysis. Similarly, a protein encoded by human 
      cytomegalovirus (CMV) prevents MICB surface expression and subsequent NKG2D 
      interaction. Whereas the benefit of solid organ transplantation may be hindered 
      by the expression of MIC molecules on grafts, tumours and viruses may take 
      advantage of the expression of MIC molecules on transformed and virus-infected 
      cells in order to evade this recognition pathway.
FAU - Collins, R W M
AU  - Collins RW
AD  - Division of Immunology, Infection and Inflammatory Disease, King's College 
      London, UK. robert.collins@kcl.ac.uk
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Review
PL  - England
TA  - Eur J Immunogenet
JT  - European journal of immunogenetics : official journal of the British Society for 
      Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics
JID - 9106962
RN  - 0 (Histocompatibility Antigens Class I)
RN  - 0 (MHC class I-related chain A)
RN  - 0 (MICB antigen)
SB  - IM
MH  - Alleles
MH  - Cytomegalovirus Infections/immunology
MH  - Disease/*etiology
MH  - Gene Expression
MH  - Genes, MHC Class I/genetics/immunology/*physiology
MH  - Genetics, Population
MH  - Haplotypes
MH  - Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/*genetics/immunology
MH  - Humans
MH  - Neoplasms/immunology
MH  - Polymorphism, Genetic
MH  - *Transplantation Immunology
RF  - 92
EDAT- 2004/06/09 05:00
MHDA- 2005/01/07 09:00
CRDT- 2004/06/09 05:00
PHST- 2004/06/09 05:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2005/01/07 09:00 [medline]
PHST- 2004/06/09 05:00 [entrez]
AID - EJI457 [pii]
AID - 10.1111/j.1365-2370.2004.00457.x [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Eur J Immunogenet. 2004 Jun;31(3):105-14. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2370.2004.00457.x.