Abstract
The human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain-related genes A and B (MICA and MICB) are located within the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I region of chromosome 6 (1). Their organization, expression, and products differ considerably from classical HLA class I genes (2). MIC proteins are considered to be markers of “stress” in the epithelia (3), and they act as ligands for cells expressing a common activatory natural killer cell receptor (NKG2D) (4). MIC proteins are also highly polymorphic (5), although the functional implications of this polymorphism remain unclear (6).
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Collins, R.W.M., Stephens, H.A.F., Vaughan, R.W. (2003). Molecular Typing of the MHC Class I Chain-Related Gene Locus. In: Powis, S.H., Vaughan, R.W. (eds) MHC Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 210. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-291-0:305
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-291-0:305
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