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. 2017 Sep 14;8(54):92143–92156. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.20922

Figure 7. The interaction between CD74 and CD44 on the surface of cells.

Figure 7

CD74 is a single-chain type II integral membrane protein monomer; its expression is linked to the biosynthesis of HLA-DR, as shown in the left panel. CD74 associates with HLA-DR and is recycled into clathrin vesicles for peptide editing by HLA-DM. Cell-surface CD74 functions as a ligand for the cytokine MIF, as shown on the right panel. CD74 loaded with MIF interacts with CD44, a cell surface type I glycoprotein expressed on most cell types including cancer cells. Upon interaction CD44 activates the proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src signal transduction pathway leading to NF-κB post-transcriptional regulation of genes. The role of CD74 and CD44 interaction in the turnover of these molecules is currently unknown. Acronyms: CD74, cluster of differentiation 74; CD74-ICD, cluster of differentiation 74 cytosolic domain; CD44, cluster of differentiation 44; HLA-DR, human leukocyte antigen-DR; HLA-DM, human leukocyte antigen-DM; MIIC, MHC class II compartment; MIF, macrophage migration inhibitory factor; MAPK/ERK, mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase signalling cascade; NF-κB, nuclear factor κB; NF-κB/RelA, RelA subunit of nuclear factor κB; PI3K, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; TAFII105, TBP-associated factor.