Innate and adaptive immunity are connected via antigen processing and
presentation (APP), which results in the presentation of antigenic peptides to
T cells in the complex with the major histocompatibility (MHC) determinants.
MHC class II (MHC II) determinants present antigens to CD4+ T cells, which are
the main regulators of the immune response. Their genes are transcribed from
compact promoters that form first the MHC II enhanceosome, which contains
DNA-bound activators and then the MHC II transcriptosome with the addition of
the class II transactivator (CIITA). CIITA is the master regulator of MHC II
transcription. It is expressed constitutively in dendritic cells (DC) and
mature B cells and is inducible in most other cell types. Three isoforms of
CIITA exist, depending on cell type and inducing signals. CIITA is regulated at
the levels of transcription and post-translational modifications, which are
still not very clear. Inappropriate immune responses are found in several
diseases, including cancer and autoimmunity. Since CIITA regulates the
expression of MHC II genes, it is involved directly in the regulation of the
immune response. The knowledge of CIITA will facilitate the manipulation of the
immune response and might contribute to the treatment of these diseases