Modulation of MHC Antigen Expression and Disease

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes are involved in the immune system's response to tumor and infected cells and in generating an immune response. This book brings together basic aspects of the regulation of MHC antigens with important clinical applications (in viral infection, viral oncology, cancer biology and autoimmunity). There is a strong emphasis on situations where MHC expression is modulated (either stimulated or repressed). The book's major themes are: the mechanisms of MHC expression—explored at several levels including the transcription and translation of MHC genes and the insertion of MHC protein molecules into plasma membranes; the effect of cytokines on MHC expression—both in the etiology of certain diseases and in possible immunotherapeutic approaches to disease; and the use of gene therapy to modify MHC expression in cancer cells, and thereby cause tumor rejection. This book will be valuable to researchers and clinicians in molecular biology, immunology, oncology, and virology.

The book contains black-and-white illustrations.

Brings together basic aspects of the regulation of MHC antigens with important clinical applications.

John A. Robinson

This multiauthored monograph addresses a timely topic that has profound implications for the control of many diseases in the future. The authors, most of whom are from the U.K., have provided a valuable service by constructing a centralized source on MHC-modulation from which scientists from disparate biodisciplines can develop a unified perspective. The book would be useful for scientists in genetics, immunogenetics, molecular biology, immunochemistry, and clinical immunology. It is especially strong in the area of the MHC/viral interactions and is broken down into chapters that describe specific viruses and the strategies by which they attempt, sometimes successfully, to intercede in the host immune response by altering cell engineering. The introductory overview chapter on the MHC and its function is excellent, and there is concise presentation of relevant experimental data in several chapters. The monograph suffers from the inevitable time lag for publication in hard cover; unfortunately, only one chapter has notes in proof that enhance the text. Because this is another rapidly changing field in immunology with precipitous movement of its borders, especially in the area of peptide/MHC interactions and viral infection-natural killer cell-MHC interactions, any possible way to update the chapters would have been of great value. Nevertheless, this book is highly recommended to both clinical and basic immunologists, virologists, immunovirologists, molecular biologists, peptide-protein chemists, and immunogeneticists. Venture capitalists should also take note because this is an area that is highly likely to prove fruitful in the development of vaccines and autoimmune diseasemodulating.

Blair, G. Eric (Univ of Leeds); Pringle, Craig R. (Univ of Warwick); Maudsley, D. John (Univ of Warwick)

The contributors represent the specialties of immunology, molecular medicine, and clinical oncology. Most are from academic medical centers in the U.K., with others from the U.S., Spain, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Institutions prominently represented include Universitat Autonoma De Barcelona, John Radcliffe Hospital, Univ of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Univ Hospital, Leiden.