Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (57)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Festenstein, H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Festenstein, H.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

British Medical Bulletin 43:217-227 (1987)
© 1987 The British Council

research-article

The biological consequences of altered MHC expression on tumours

Hilliard Festenstein

Department of Immunology, The London Hospital Medical College London

Abstract

The biological importance of MHC molecules in host tumour interactions is reviewed. It is clear from both experimental and clinical investigations that there are important consequences of both the quantitative and qualitative variations in the expression of MHC antigens. The selective absence of certain detectable syngeneic class I antigens significantly affects the host immune response to tumour associated transplantation antigens in the Gross virus experimental model. This is believed to be due to MHC restricted responses. There is a clear quantitative relationship between the amount of the relevant class I restriction element present on these tumours and the host immune response to the tumour as detected by in vitro cytotoxicity and cytostasis tests and also in in vivo tumour progression. The host response to the tumour can be radically altered by causing the re-expression of the relevant class I restriction element following gene transfection. The quantitative balance between the antigens of the two class I loci is also important in determining the frequency of metastasis.

The molecular basis of the expression of novel MHC allo-antigen like molecules on syngeneic tumours is now better understood and is believed to arise from gene conversion or rearrangement possibly involving multiple silent Qa and Tla a-like genes and MHC pseudogenes and following insults by toxic chemicals, radiation effects and viruses. The biological effects of these antigens is still being investigated and may involve both tumour surveillance or tumour promotion depending on the nature of the novel molecule expressed.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 QJMHome page
A. Dalgleish
The relevance of non-linear mathematics (chaos theory) to the treatment of cancer, the role of the immune response and the potential for vaccines
QJM, June 1, 1999; 92(6): 347 - 359.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.