• Animal cells and systems
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2005

Class I and class II MHC genes have been identified in most of the jawed vertebrate taxa. In all investigated bony fish species, unlike mammals, the classical class I and class II MHC genes are not linked and even are found on different chromosomes. Linking and clustering of the class I and class II MHC genes is not the only phenomenon clearly detected in the evolution of immune system from cartilaginous to mammals. In all non-mammalian classes the LMP/TAP genes are highly conserved within class I genes region, while these genes are conserved within class II genes region only in mammals. Today we know that LMP/TAP genes in mammals have a crucial role in peptide processing for presentation within class I molecules, as well as in anti-tumor immunity. For these reasons, differences in clustering of LMP/TAP/MHC genes can be responsible for the differences in mechanisms and efficacy of anti-tumor immunity in non-mammalian vertebrates compared to same mechanisms in mammals. Also, the differences in cytokine network and anti-tumor antigens presentation within classes of vertebrates can be explained by toe peculiarity of LMP/TAP/MHC gene clustering.