MARCH-I: A new regulator of dendritic cell function

We and other groups have demonstrated that the expression level of MHC class II (MHC II) is regulated through ubiquitination of the MHC II beta chain. We also reported that MARCH-I, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, is critical for this process. At present, however, the importance of MARCH-I-mediated MHC II regulation in vivo is still unknown. In this review, we will summarize recent advances in our understanding of MARCH-I-mediated MHC II ubiquitination, and discuss how we can overcome the difficulties inherent in these studies.