Major Histocompatibility Complex Modulation and Loss

This chapter contains sections titled: The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Antigen-Processing and -Presentation Pathways The MHC Class I Antigen-Processing Machinery (APM) The MHC Class II APM The Physiology of the Non-classical HLA-G Molecule Determination of the Expression of Classical and Non-classical MHC Antigens Interaction between Tumor and the Immune System The Different MHC Class I Phenotypes and their Underlying Molecular Mechanisms MHC Class I Loss MHC Class I Down-regulation Selective Loss or Down-regulation MHC Class I Alterations: Impact on Immune Responses and Clinical Relevance The Role of MHC Class II Processing and Presentation in Tumors Frequency and Clinical Impact of MHC Class II Expression on Tumors Molecular Mechanisms of Deficiencies in the MHC Class II APM Modulation of Immune Response by Altered MHC Class II Expression MHC Class II Expression in Antitumor Response Role of IFN-γ in Immunosurveillance IFN-γ-dependent Immunosurveillance of Tumor Growth Deficiencies in the IFN Signal Transduction Pathway HLA-G Expression: an Immune Privilege for Malignant Cells? HLA-G Expression in Tumor Cells of Distinct Origin Clinical Impact of HLA-G Expression Induction of Tolerance by HLA-G Expression Conclusions