ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This review focuses on the current knowledge on the implication and significance of beta 2 microglobulin (ß2M), a conservative immune molecule in vertebrate. DATA SOURCES: The data used in this review were obtained from PubMed up to October 2015. Terms of ß2M, immune response, and infection were used in the search. STUDY SELECTIONS: Articles related to ß2M were retrieved and reviewed. Articles focusing on the characteristic and function of ß2M were selected. The exclusion criteria of articles were that the studies on ß2M-related molecules. RESULTS: ß2M is critical for the immune surveillance and modulation in vertebrate animals. The dysregulation of ß2M is associated with multiple diseases, including endogenous and infectious diseases. ß2M could directly participate in the development of cancer cells, and the level of ß2M is deemed as a prognostic marker for several malignancies. It also involves in forming major histocompatibility complex (MHC class I or MHC I) or like heterodimers, covering from antigen presentation to immune homeostasis. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the characteristic of ß2M, it or its signaling pathway has been targeted as biomedical or therapeutic tools. Moreover, ß2M is highly conserved among different species, and overall structures are virtually identical, implying the versatility of ß2M on applications.
