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Updated: Sep 30, 2026

Use of Single Chain MHC Technology to Investigate Co-agonism in Human CD8+ T Cell Activation
Published on: February 28, 2019
The overlooked "nonclassical" functions of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens in immune and
M Altomonte1, C Pucillo, M Maio
1Advanced Immunotherapy Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Aviano, Italy. UTII@ets.it
Abstract:
Besides their "classical" antigenic peptide-presenting activity, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens can activate different cellular functions in immune and nonimmune cells. However, this "nonclassical" role and its functional consequences are still substantially overlooked. In this review, we will focus on these alternative functional properties of MHC class II antigens, to reawaken attention to their present and foreseeable immunobiologic and pathogenetic implications. The main issues that will be addressed concern 1) the role of MHC class II molecules as basic components of exchangeable oligomeric protein complexes with intracellular signaling ability; 2) the nonclassical functions of MHC class II antigens in immune cells; 3) the pathogenetic role of MHC class II antigens in inflammatory/autoimmune and infectious disease; and 4) the functional role of MHC class II antigens in solid malignancies.
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