| First Author | Shi GP | Year | 1999 |
| Journal | Immunity | Volume | 10 |
| Issue | 2 | Pages | 197-206 |
| PubMed ID | 10072072 | Mgi Jnum | J:53799 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:1333424 | Doi | 10.1016/s1074-7613(00)80020-5 |
| Citation | Shi GP, et al. (1999) Cathepsin S required for normal MHC class II peptide loading and germinal center development. Immunity 10(2):197-206 |
| abstractText | Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules acquire antigenic peptides after degradation of the invariant chain (Ii), an MHC class Ii-associated protein that otherwise blocks peptide binding. Antigen-presenting cells of mice that lack the protease cathepsin S fail to process Ii beyond a 10 kDa fragment, resulting in delayed peptide loading and accumulation of cell surface MHC class II/10 kDa Ii complexes. Although cathepsin S-deficient mice have normal numbers of B and T cells and normal IgE responses, they show markedly impaired antibody class switching to IgG2a and IgG3. These results indicate cathepsin S is a major Ii-processing enzyme in splenocytes and dendritic cells. Its role in humoral immunity critically depends on how antigens access the immune system. |
