Whereas detecting an upregulation of MHC molecules can be seen as an activated state in such cells (e.g., MHC class II in epithelial cells), this is usually due to exposure to proinflammatory cytokines, such as IFN-γ, which does indeed induce the expression of MHC molecules during an infection or other inflammatory state (Steinman, 1988; Früh and Yang, 1999; Giacomini et al., 1988). The gene discussed is HLA-C; the disease is infection.