HLA-DRB1 and autoimmune disease: Activated CD8+ T-lymphocytes also showed upregulation of MHC II genes such as CD74, HLA-DRA, HLA-DRB1, HLA-DRB5, HLA-DQA1. MHC II gene expression in T-lymphocytes has been described as a late marker of activation, associated with persistent inflammation in many autoimmune disorders (31–33).