The classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules are critical to our immune system. The group of proteins containing the MHC molecules possesses several other members some of which appear very important in our defense system. We study the biological functions, the structures, and the evolution of those molecules using various methods such as those based on the molecular biology, protein chemistry, cell biology, and immunology. The adaptive immune system, in which antibodies and T-cell receptors function as antigen-binding receptors, is unique to the jawed vertebrates. We investigate the MHC molecules of various vertebrates to aim at the deeper understanding of the establishment of our immune system. We also study some other molecules such as CD4, CD8, and some cytokines, which play important roles in the biological reactions involving MHC (-related) molecules.

1. Yamaguchi H, Tsukamoto K, Hashimoto K. Cell surface expression of MR1B, a splice variant of the MHC class I-related molecule MR1, revealed with antibodies. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 443, 422-427. (2014)

2. Dijkstra JM, Takizawa F, Fischer U, Friedrich M, Soto-Lampe V, Lefèvre C, Lenk M, Karger A, Matsui T, Hashimoto K. Identification of a gene for an ancient cytokine, interleukin 15-like, in mammals; interleukins 2 and 15 co-evolved with this third family member, all sharing binding motifs for IL-15Rα Immunogenetics 66, 93-103 (2014)

3. Dijkstra JM, Grimholt U, Leong J, Koop BF, Hashimoto K. Comprehensive analysis of MHC class II genes in teleost fish genomes reveals dispensability of the peptide-loading DM system in a large part of vertebrates. BMC Evolutionary Biology 13, 260 (2013)

4. Tsukamoto K, Deakin JE, Graves JA, Hashimoto K. Exceptionally high conservation of the MHC class I-related gene, MR1, among mammals. Immunogenetics 65, 115-124 (2013)

5. Dijkstra, J. M., Katagiri, T., Hosomichi, K., Yanagiya, K., Inoko, H., Ototake, M., Aoki, T., Hashimoto, K., Shiina, T. A third broad lineage of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I in teleost fish; MHC class II linkage and processed genes. Immunogenetics 59, 305-321 (2007)

6. Yamaguchi, H., Hashimoto, K. Association of MR1 protein, and MHC class I-related molecule, with beta-2-microglobulin. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 290, 722-729 (2002)

7. Ohta, Y., Okamura, K., McKinney, E. C., Bartl, S., Hashimoto, K., Flajnik, M. F. Primitive synteny of vertebrate major histocompatibility complex class I and class II genes. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 97, 4712-4717 (2000)

8. Hashimoto K, Okamura K, Yamaguchi H, Ototake M, Nakanishi T, Kurosawa Y. Conservation and diversification of MHC class I and its related molecules in vertebrates. Immunol Rev 167, 81-100 (1999)

9. Okamura, K., Ototake, M., Nakanishi, T., Kurosawa, Y., Hashimoto, K. The most primitive vertebrates with jaws possess highly polymorphic MHC class I genes comparable to those of humans. Immunity 7, 777-790 (1997)

10. Hashimoto, K., Hirai, M., Kurosawa, Y. A gene outside the human MHC related to classical HLA class I genes. Science 269, 693-695 (1995)

11. Hashimoto, K., Nakanishi, T., Kurosawa, Y. Identification of a shark sequence resembling the major histocompatibility complex class I alpha 3 domain. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 89, 2209-2212 (1992)

12. Hashimoto, K., Nakanishi, T., Kurosawa, Y. Isolation of carp genes encoding major histocompatibility complex antigens. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 87, 6863-6867 (1990)