14th International HLA and Immunogenetics Workshop: Report on non-classical class I genes

Non-classical class I genes are encoding for cell surface proteins that have largely yet unknown functions. Although some of these proteins (human leukocyte antigens E, F and G) have been shown to present peptides, their polymorphism is very restricted at the peptide-binding region. In the present Workshop, several papers were presented addressing detection, evolutive and functional issues of these proteins. The general inhibitory immunological function of these proteins is put forward.