Position 156 influences the peptide repertoire and tapasin dependency of human leukocyte antigen Bz.ast;44 allotypes

Abstract

Background: Polymorphic differences between donor and recipient human leukocyte antigen class I molecules can result in graft-versus-host disease due to distinct peptide presentation. As part of the peptide-loading complex, tapasin plays an important role in selecting peptides from the pool of potential ligands. Class I polymorphisms can significantly alter the tapasin-mediated interaction with the peptide-loading complex and although most class I allotypes are highly dependent upon tapasin, some are able to load peptides independently of tapasin. Several human leukocyte antigen B*44 allotypes differ exclusively at position 156 (B*44:02 156Asp, 44:03 156Leu, 44:28 156Arg, 44:35 156Glu). From..