High MHC-II expression in Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric cancers suggests that tumor cells serve an important role in antigen presentation.

ABSTRACT: EBV-associated gastric adenocarcinomas (EBVaGCs) often exhibit better clinical outcomes than EBV negative gastric cancers (GCs), which could be related to their consistent expression of foreign viral antigens. Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) present peptide antigens in the context of the class-II major histocompatibility complex (MHC-II). During inflammatory conditions, epithelial cells express MHC-II and function as accessory APCs. Utilizing RNA-seq data from nearly 400 GC patients, we determined the impact of EBV-status on expression of MHC-II components, genes involved in their regulation, and T-cell co-stimulation. Virtually all MHC-II genes were significantly upregulated in EBVaGCs compared to normal tissues, or other GC subtypes. Genes involved in antigen presentation were also signi

SUBMITTER: Ghasemi F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7479113 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature