The Structure and Function of MHC Class I Molecules in Health and Disease: Implications in Aging and Neuro-Immune Crosstalk
A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Cellular Biochemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2026 | Viewed by 38
Special Issue Editors
Interests: CD8+ T-cells; MHC class I; immune biomarkers; neuroimmunology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: CD8+ TEMRA cells; MHC class I molecules; open MHC-I conformers; tissue repair
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Classical MHC class I molecules (HLA class I in humans, H-2 in mice) are usually a trimer of a 45 kDa heavy chain, a 12 kDa light chain (β2m), and an 8-11 small peptide. They constitute a diverse group of cell surface receptors expressed on all nucleated cells and platelets. Under certain circumstances, however, cell surface MHC-I molecules can also exist in a β2m/peptide-free manner. By displaying self MHC-I/peptide complexes, they inform the immunological system, namely T and NK cells, of the health condition of a cell, allowing us to distinguish between a healthy, an infected, a malignant, or even a stressed cell. Cell surface MHC-I/peptide complexes are also important in developing self-tolerance. Last, but not least, β2m/peptide-free MHC-I molecules can also interact with receptors other than the TCR (e.g., inhibitory and activation receptors present on T cells, NK cells, and macrophages), regulating immunological responses. Both MHC-I conformations are known to play non-immune functions by cis-trans-interactions with growth factor and hormone receptors, with implications for autoimmunity, cancer, and neurodegeneration. In this Special Issue, we encourage the submission of original research articles, reviews, perspectives, or methods addressing the study of the biology of MHC class I molecules, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Factors regulating cell surface expression, turnover, endocytosis, and intracellular trafficking of MHC-I molecules;
- Molecular mechanisms regulating the physiological equilibrium between closed and open MHC-I conformers at the cell surface and the implications for cellular function in selected cell types, including activation, proliferation, survival, and differentiation;
- Identification of molecular cis-associations with signaling receptors and the functional implications for the cell;
- Molecular and structural studies addressing the role of selected/cryptic motifs within the cytoplasmic and external domains of MHC-I molecules on the expression and function of these molecules;
- Studies addressing the expression and regulatory role of MHC-I molecules on aged humans and in brain function and neuronal plasticity.
Dr. Elsa Maria Cardoso
Dr. Fernando Arosa
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- classical MHC-I molecules
- human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I
- soluble HLA class I
- immunological and non-immunological functions
- neuro-immune crosstalk
- aging and brain cognition
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