[Peptide binding motif for HLA class I and autoimmune disease]

Some HLA class I alleles are strongly associated with autoimmune diseases, such as HLA-B27 for ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and HLA-B51 for Behçet's disease. But it is not clear how the class I molecules play a role in induction of the diseases. Recent studies have shown that HLA class I associates with beta 2-microglobulin and one of a range of naturally processed short peptides. The peptides bind into a groove formed by two alpha helices and a beta-pleated sheet of HLA class I molecules. HLA class I molecules present peptides with allele-specific motifs to T cells, and CTL recognize the peptides on HLA class I molecules. Further studies of peptides bound to HLA class I molecules are expected to identify peptides associated with autoimmune disease.