About this Research Topic
T cell recognition of antigen-presenting cells depends on their expression of a range of peptides bound to major histocompatibility complex class I and class II molecules. Transformation of antigens derived from pathogens or tumor cells into MHC class I and II binding peptides is essential for generating protective CD8 and CD4 T cell responses, and similar processing of self-proteins is needed to establish and maintain tolerance. Cells employ a variety of mechanisms to acquire protein antigens, degrade them into peptides and assemble peptides with MHC molecules. Defects or changes of these mechanisms significantly alter both the peptide supply and the presented peptide repertoire at the cell surface.
Antigen processing and presentation underlies the development of all autoimmune diseases, influencing both tolerance induction in the thymus and self-antigen recognition and immune cell activation in the periphery. Specific alleles of the both MHC class I and MHC class II molecules are the most significant genetic risk factor for several autoimmune diseases and epitope selection can greatly impact T cell response increasing the chance of developing autoimmune diseases.
Alterations of the antigen processing and presentation machinery have also a significant impact on clearance of infections that may predispose to autoimmunity by several mechanisms, including enhanced expression of co-stimulators in tissues and cross reactions between microbial antigens and self-antigens.
Greater knowledge about the molecular mechanisms underlying antigen processing and presentation defects may help to develop personalized immunological approaches for treatment and to modulate antigen-specific autoimmune responses without hampering immune reactivity to pathogens.
This Research Topic welcomes the submission of Original Research and Review articles covering the following topics:
• Genetic, epigenetic, transcriptional, post-transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms underlying MHC class I and class II antigen processing and presentation;
• Dynamics of antigen presenting cells and T cells;
• Clinical correlates of and disease defined by MHC class I and class II antigen processing and presentation defects;
• Therapeutic strategies for intervention on MHC class I and class II antigen processing and presentation in autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases.
Dr. Beilhack is a scientific co-founder and scientific advisor of the start-up company DualYX NV. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests.
Antigen processing and presentation underlies the development of all autoimmune diseases, influencing both tolerance induction in the thymus and self-antigen recognition and immune cell activation in the periphery. Specific alleles of the both MHC class I and MHC class II molecules are the most significant genetic risk factor for several autoimmune diseases and epitope selection can greatly impact T cell response increasing the chance of developing autoimmune diseases.
Alterations of the antigen processing and presentation machinery have also a significant impact on clearance of infections that may predispose to autoimmunity by several mechanisms, including enhanced expression of co-stimulators in tissues and cross reactions between microbial antigens and self-antigens.
Greater knowledge about the molecular mechanisms underlying antigen processing and presentation defects may help to develop personalized immunological approaches for treatment and to modulate antigen-specific autoimmune responses without hampering immune reactivity to pathogens.
This Research Topic welcomes the submission of Original Research and Review articles covering the following topics:
• Genetic, epigenetic, transcriptional, post-transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms underlying MHC class I and class II antigen processing and presentation;
• Dynamics of antigen presenting cells and T cells;
• Clinical correlates of and disease defined by MHC class I and class II antigen processing and presentation defects;
• Therapeutic strategies for intervention on MHC class I and class II antigen processing and presentation in autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases.
Dr. Beilhack is a scientific co-founder and scientific advisor of the start-up company DualYX NV. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests.
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
