Characteristics of HLA-E Restricted T-Cell Responses and Their Role in Infectious Diseases

Figure 1

HLA-E serves a dual role in the immune system. HLA-E presents antigens, including pathogen-derived antigens on the cell surface of most cells. NK cells, as part of the innate immune system, will sense the presence of HLA-E presenting self or pathogen-derived peptides and thereby receive inhibitory signals from the CD94/NKG2A complex such that NK mediated lysis will be inhibited. In addition, CD8⁺ T-cells may specifically recognize foreign peptide presented by HLA-E and become activated through their T-cell receptor, resulting in T-cell activation, expansion, and memory formation in the adaptive immune system.