Acquisition of HLA class I W6/32 defined antigenic determinant by heavy chains from different species following association with bovine beta 2-microglobulin

Murine, rat, rabbit and guinea pig class I heavy chains, which do not react with W6/32 monoclonal antibody when they are expressed in association with autologous beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m), can acquire such a reactivity once they are expressed at the surface of cells cultured in conditions which allow their association with bovine beta 2-m. Sequence comparison of beta 2-ms suggests that glutamine at position 89 might be critical for the induction of the W6/32 defined antigenic determinant. However, in the murine species, certain class I heavy chains, in spite of their association with bovine beta 2-m, do not express this determinant. Using genetically engineered hybrid class I molecules and selected congenic strains of mice this negative property was shown to be related to the presence of a cysteine residue at position 121 which allows covalent association of beta 2-m to class I heavy chains (Bushkin, Y., J-S. Tung, A. Pinter, J. Michaelson, and E. A. Boyse. 1986. Unusual association of beta 2-microglobulin with certain class I heavy chains of the murine major histocompatibility complex. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:432). Therefore, expression of the W6/32 defined antigenic determinant implicates both the beta 2-m and the second domain of the heavy chain, but its expression (or exposure) is prevented by the covalent fixation on cysteine 121 of the light chain.     

Human beta 2-microglobulin specifically enhances cell-surface expression of HLA class I molecules in transfected murine cells

Sequential transfections of P815 murine mastocytoma cells with class I gene encoding either HLA-Cw3, HLA-A3, or HLA-B7 H chain and subsequently with a human beta 2-microglobulin gene were performed to evaluate the relative efficiency of human and murine beta 2-microglobulins in promoting the cell-surface expression of HLA-class I molecules. A 6-, 11-, and 40-fold specific enhancement of the cell-surface expression of HLA-Cw3, HLA-A3, and HLA-B7 molecules, respectively, was observed in cells co-transfected with human beta 2-microglobulin gene. This effect was attributed to a more efficient association of HLA H chains with human than with murine beta 2-microglobulin, which apparently allowed a more rapid transport of the HLA molecules from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus.     

Different MHC class I heavy chains compete with each other for folding independently of beta 2-microglobulin and peptide

We reported previously that different MHC class I molecules can compete with each other for cell surface expression in F(1) hybrid and MHC class I transgenic mice. In this study, we show that the competition also occurs in transfected cell lines, and investigate the mechanism. Cell surface expression of an endogenous class I molecule in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells was strongly down-regulated when the mouse K(d) class I H chain was introduced by transfection. The competition occurred only after K(d) protein translation, not at the level of RNA, and localization studies of a CHO class I-GFP fusion showed that the presence of K(d) caused retention of the hamster class I molecule in the endoplasmic reticulum. The competition was not for beta(2)-microglobulin, because a single chain version of K(d) that included mouse beta(2)-microglobulin also had a similar effect. The competition was not for association with TAP and loading with peptide, because a mutant form of the K(d) class I H chain, not able to associate with TAP, caused the same down-regulation of hamster class I expression. Moreover, K(d) expression led to a similar level of competition in TAP2-negative CHO cells. Competition for cell surface expression was also found between different mouse class I H chains in transfected mouse cells, and this competition prevented association of the H chain with beta(2)-microglobulin. These unexpected new findings show that different class I H chains compete with each other at an early stage of the intracellular assembly pathway, independently of beta(2)-microglobulin and peptide.     

HLA-E: strong association with beta2-microglobulin and surface expression in the absence of HLA class I signal sequence-derived peptides

The nonclassical class I HLA-E molecule folds in the presence of peptide ligands donated by the signal sequences of permissive class I HLA alleles, with the aid of TAP and tapasin. To identify HLA-E-specific Abs, four monoclonals of the previously described MEM series were screened by isoelectric focusing (IEF) blot and immunoprecipitation/IEF on >30 single-allele class I transfectants and HLA-homozygous B lymphoid cells coexpressing HLA-E and HLA-A, -B, -C, -F, or -G. Despite their HLA-E-restricted reactivity patterns (MEM-E/02 in IEF blot; MEM-E/07 and MEM-E/08 in immunoprecipitation), all of the MEM Abs unexpectedly reacted with beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)m)-free and denatured (but not beta(2)m-associated and folded) HLA-E H chains. Remarkably, other HLA-E-restricted Abs were also reactive with free H chains. Immunodepletion, in vitro assembly, flow cytometry, and three distinct surface-labeling methods, including a modified (conformation-independent) biotin-labeling assay, revealed the coexistence of HLA-E conformers with unusual and drastically antithetic features. MEM-reactive conformers were thermally unstable and poorly surface expressed, as expected, whereas beta(2)m-associated conformers were either unstable and weakly reactive with the prototypic conformational Ab W6/32, or exceptionally stable and strongly reactive with Abs to beta(2)m even in cells lacking permissive alleles (721.221), TAP (T2), or tapasin (721.220). Noncanonical, immature (endoglycosidase H-sensitive) HLA-E glycoforms were surface expressed in these cells, whereas mature glycoforms were exclusively expressed (and at much lower levels) in cells carrying permissive alleles. Thus, HLA-E is a good, and not a poor, beta(2)m assembler, and TAP/tapasin-assisted ligand donation is only one, and possibly not even the major, pathway leading to its stabilization and surface expression.     

Structural relatedness of distinct determinants recognized by monoclonal antibody TP25.99 on beta 2-microglobulin-associated and beta 2-microglobulin-free HLA class I heavy chains

The association of HLA class I heavy chains with beta2-microglobulin (beta2m) changes their antigenic profile. As a result, Abs react with either beta2m-free or beta2m-associated HLA class I heavy chains. An exception to this rule is the mAb TP25.99, which reacts with both beta2m-associated and beta2m-free HLA class I heavy chains. The reactivity with beta2m-associated HLA class I heavy chains is mediated by a conformational determinant expressed on all HLA-A, -B, and -C Ags. This determinant has been mapped to amino acid residues 194-198 in the alpha3 domain. The reactivity with beta2m-free HLA class I heavy chains is mediated by a linear determinant expressed on all HLA-B Ags except the HLA-B73 allospecificity and on <50% of HLA-A allospecificities. The latter determinant has been mapped to amino acid residues 239-242, 245, and 246 in the alpha3 domain. The conformational and the linear determinants share several structural features, but have no homology in their amino acid sequence. mAb TP25.99 represents the first example of a mAb recognizing two distinct and spatially distant determinants on a protein. The structural homology of a linear and a conformational determinant on an antigenic entity provides a molecular mechanism for the sharing of specificity by B and TCRs.     

Altered structure of HLA class I heavy chains associated with mouse beta-2 microglobulin

The serological reactivities of HLA-A3, -B7, and -CW3 heavy chains associated with either mouse, bovine, or human beta-2 microglobulin ( ₂m) and expressed on the surface of transfected mouse fibroblasts were analyzed. All reactivities associated with one cluster (defined by monoclonal antibody W6/32) of antigenic determinants expressed by these HLA class I molecules were lost, or profoundly reduced, after each heavy chain associated with mouse ₂-m. Expression by the transfected fibroblasts of the HLA-A3, -B7, and -CW3 heavy chains in association with human ₂m restores these reactivities. Since most of the amino acid differences between mouse and human ₂m probably correspond to externally oriented hydrophilic residues, these results suggest that critical interactions in the three-dimensional structure of HLA class I molecules occur between the light chain and the first two external domains of the class I heavy chains, to which some of the altered reactivities have been mapped.     

A cross-reaction between beta2-microglobulin and kappa-light chains.

Certain antisera to immunoglobulins containing kappa-chains show the presence of antibodies that cross-react with beta2-microglobulin. This was most apparent with an antiserum made to highly purified F(ab) fragments of Fr II gamma-globulin. These cross-reactive antibodies caused positive fluorescence and cytotoxicity reactions with a variety of cell types including T cells. These reactions were completely removed by absorption with highly purified kappa-chains but not with lambda-chains or lambda immunoglobulins. beta2-microglobulin preparations also absorbed or inhibited the special cellular reactivities. Evidence was obtained that HLA-bound beta2-microglobulin was more efficient in this respect. The possibility is discussed that similar cross-reactive antibodies may have been involved in some previous studies of inhibition of T cell function by immunoglobulin antisera.     

An antigenic determinant of human beta 2-microglobulin masked by the association with HLA heavy chains at the cell surface: analysis using monoclonal antibodies

Four anti-human beta 2-microglobulin monoclonal antibodies were produced against whole lymphoid cells or against urinary beta 2-microglobulin. Their reactivity was fully inhibited by purified soluble beta 2-microglobulin. The B1.1G6, C23.24.2, and B2.62.2 antibodies bound either to free or to HLA-complexed beta 2m. They recognized the same or very close determinants, since they achieved mutual blocking. In contrast, the C21.48A1 antibody did not bind to the cell surface and did not recognize the same determinant on the purified beta 2-microglobulin molecule as the others. It was able to bind and to form a specific complex with membrane beta 2-microglobulin only, once separated from the HLA heavy chain. These data strongly suggest that the C21.48A1 antigenic determinant might be hidden when the beta 2-microglobulin is complexed with the HLA heavy chains at the cell surface.     

Role of beta 2-microglobulin in the intracellular transport and surface expression of murine class I histocompatibility molecules

We have examined the requirement for beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) in the intracellular transport of murine class I histocompatibility molecules to the cell surface. R1E cells that are defective in the synthesis of beta 2m were transfected with either the class I H-2Kb or H-2Db genes alone, or together with the beta 2m gene. Kb or Db heavy chains synthesized in the presence of beta 2m were transported rapidly through the cell and expressed efficiently at the cell surface. In the absence of beta 2m, no "free" Kb heavy chains were detectable at the cell surface and their intracellular transport was blocked at an early stage. In contrast, a significant quantity of "free" Db heavy chains could be detected at the cell surface as we have reported previously. However, we have shown here that defects in intracellular transport were apparent in that the majority (approximately 70%) of newly synthesized Db heavy chains accumulated intracellularly and were degraded. Therefore, although Kb and Db heavy chains differ in their abilities to be expressed at the cell surface in the absence of beta 2m they both require association with beta 2m for efficient intracellular transport. In addition, R1E cells transfected with a deletion construct of the Kb gene expressed a truncated molecule lacking the alpha 3 extracellular domain (Kb-3) at the cell surface, but, like free Db, most newly synthesized Kb-3 molecules accumulated intracellularly. The free Kb, Kb-3, and Db heavy chains were not recognized by most mAb specific for Kb and Db, respectively. Therefore, even the transported forms of free Db and Kb-3 were not native in conformation, which is surprising given the current view that correct folding is essential for intracellular transport. Interestingly, the free Db and Kb-3 heavy chains that reached the cell surface differed in their detergent binding properties from those retained within the cell. This suggests that the transported heavy chains may have folded differently thus allowing their export to the cell surface.     

Crosses of two independently derived transgenic mice demonstrate functional complementation of the genes encoding heavy (HLA-B27) and light (beta 2-microglobulin) chains of HLA class I antigens

In man a number of diseases are associated with certain alleles of MHC antigens. The most pronounced example is ankylosing spondylitis, which is strongly associated with HLA-B27. As a first step towards a model system to study the basis of this association, transgenic mice were generated that showed cell surface expression of the HLA-B27 antigen biochemically indistinguishable from HLA-B27 antigen expressed on human cells. This result was obtained by crossing two independently derived strains of mice, one of which is transgenic for the HLA-B27 heavy chain gene, and the other carrying and expressing the human beta 2m gene. Examination of HLA-B27 and human beta 2m mRNA in various tissues shows the two genes to be expressed in a coordinate fashion. The mRNA levels follow those of endogenous H-2 Class I genes.     

Dissociation of beta 2-microglobulin leads to the accumulation of a substantial pool of inactive class I MHC heavy chains on the cell surface

A large pool of free class I heavy chains is detected in situ on the plasma membrane of living cells. These chains are present on cells of different MHC genotypes and appear to exist under physiological conditions in vivo. These molecules arise from the dissociation of previously assembled class I heterodimers at the cell surface. The ratio of intact to dissociated heterodimers is strongly affected by the occupancy of the peptide-binding site of the class I molecule. Upon dissociation of the heterodimer, the class I molecule is functionally inactive. These findings may help to explain why class I molecules on the cell surface are unreceptive to binding peptides yet readily associate with peptides in the presence of exogenous beta 2-microglobulin. These results have implications for understanding the distinct functions of class I versus class II molecules and how the immunological identity of cells is preserved.     

Induction of assembly of MHC class I heavy chains with beta 2microglobulin by interferon-gamma.

Assembly of histocompatibility class I heavy chains with beta 2microglobulin (beta 2m) is known to be necessary for cell surface expression. Studies on the H-2 class I deficient but interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) inducible fibrosarcoma BC2 and the lung carcinoma CMT 64.5 showed that after transfection with allogeneic H-2 class I genes the class I proteins are expressed, but only intracellularly and not on the cell surface. In spite of the presence of beta 2m in the cells no association of the transfected class I chain with beta 2m was observed. However, stimulation with IFN-gamma induced assembly and subsequent surface expression. These findings show that the assembly of class I heavy chains with beta 2m is not a spontaneous event but appears to be regulated by cellular mechanisms the nature of which is still unknown.     

Antibody-induced association between discrete regions of HLA class I and II antigens

The anti-HLA-DR + DP monoclonal antibody (MoAb) CR11-462 was unexpectedly found to cross-inhibit the binding to B lymphoid cells of the anti-HLA Class I MoAb CR10-215 and CR11-115. The latter two antibodies recognized the same or spatially close antigenic determinant. The cross-blocking of anti-HLA Class I MoAb CR10-215 and CR11-115 by MoAb CR11-462 reflects neither its contamination by anti-HLA Class I antibodies nor its cross-reactivity with HLA Class I antigens. On the other hand, the cross-blocking appears to reflect redistribution of HLA Class II antigens by the MoAb CR11-462, since the MoAb CR10-215 and CR11-115 are not susceptible to blocking when lymphoid cells are treated with 0.025% glutaraldehyde or are coated with Fab' fragments of the MoAb CR11-462. Furthermore, immunoprecipitates from B lymphoid cells preincubated with the MoAb CR11-462 before solubilization contain HLA Class I antigens. Therefore, these results have shown for the first time an antibody-induced association between discrete regions of HLA Class I and Class II antigens on the membrane of B lymphoid cells.     

Kinetics and thermodynamics of beta 2-microglobulin binding to the alpha 3 domain of major histocompatibility complex class I heavy chain

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule plays a crucial role in cytotoxic lymphocyte function. Functional class I MHC exists as a heterotrimer consisting of the MHC class I heavy chain, an antigenic peptide fragment, and beta2-microglobulin (beta2m). beta2m has been previously shown to play an important role in the folding of the MHC heavy chain without continued beta2m association with the MHC complex. Therefore, beta2m is both a structural component of the MHC complex and a chaperone-like molecule for MHC folding. In this study we provide data supporting a model in which the chaperone-like role of beta2m is dependent on initial binding to only one of the two beta2m interfaces with class 1 heavy chain. beta2-Microglobulin binding to an isolated alpha3 domain of the class I MHC heavy chain accurately models the biochemistry and thermodynamics of beta2m-driven refolding. Our results explain a 1000-fold discrepancy between beta2m binding and refolding of MHC1. The biochemical study of the individual domains of complex molecules is an important strategy for understanding their dynamic structure and multiple functions.     

A dominant negative mutant beta 2-microglobulin blocks the extracellular folding of a major histocompatibility complex class I heavy chain

The major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC1) molecule plays a crucial role in cytotoxic lymphocyte function. beta 2-Microglobulin (beta 2m) has been demonstrated to be both a structural component of the MHC1 complex and a chaperone-like molecule for MHC1 folding. beta 2m binding to an isolated alpha 3 domain of MHC1 heavy chain at micromolar concentrations has been shown to accurately model the biochemistry and thermodynamics of beta 2m-driven MHC1 folding. These results suggested a model in which the chaperone-like role of beta 2m is dependent on initial binding to the alpha 3 domain interface of MHC1 with beta 2m. Such a model predicts that a mutant beta 2m molecule with an intact MHC1 alpha 3 domain interaction but a defective MHC1 alpha 1 alpha 2 domain interaction would block beta2m-driven folding of MHC1. In this study we generated such a beta 2m mutant and demonstrated that it blocks MHC1 folding by normal beta 2m at the expected micromolar concentrations. Our data support an initial interaction of beta 2m with the MHC1 alpha 3 domain in MHC1 folding. In addition, the dominant negative mutant beta 2m can block T-cell functional responses to antigenic peptide and MHC1.     

Role of beta2-microglobulin in the intracellular processing of HLA antigens

The biosynthesis of HLA-A, -B, and -C antigens was examined in the two lymphoblastoid cell lines DAUDI and RAJI. In RAJI cells the HLA-A, -B, and -C antigen heavy chains become core-glycosylated in the endoplasmic reticulum as evidenced by their sensitivity to endo-H digestion and tunicamycin treatment. Beta2-Microglobulin is present in excess in the endoplasmic reticulum of the RAJI cells and associates with the heavy chain at the time of synthesis of the heavy chain. Pulse-chase experiments demonstrated that the RAJI HLA-A, -B, and -C antigen heavy chains become terminally glycosylated since their changed characteristics included resistance to endo-H digestion, sensitivity to neuraminidase treatment, and incorporation fucose. DAUDI HLA-A, -B, and -C antigen heavy chains are synthesized normally and become core-glycosylated but not terminally glycosylated. Other glycosylated cell surface proteins, like the HLA-DR antigens, display normal glycosylation in DAUDI cells. Therefore it is unlikely that the absence of terminally glycosylated HLA-A, -B, and -C antigen heavy chains is the result of a general defect in the biosynthetic machinery of DAUDI cells. However, DAUDI cells lack the ability to synthesize beta2-microglobulin, the common subunit of all HLA-A, -B, and -C antigens. Therefore, it seems reasonable to conclude that beta2-microglobulin is of importance for intracellular transport of newly synthesized HLA-A, -B, and -C antigens.     

Membrane-anchored beta 2-microglobulin stabilizes a highly receptive state of MHC class I molecules

The magnitude of response elicited by CTL-inducing vaccines correlates with the density of MHC class I (MHC-I)-peptide complexes formed on the APC membrane. The MHC-I L chain, beta2-microglobulin (beta2m), governs complex stability. We reasoned that genetically converting beta2m into an integral membrane protein should exert a marked stabilizing effect on the resulting MHC-I molecules and enhance vaccine efficacy. In the present study, we show that expression of membranal human beta2m (hbeta2m) in mouse RMA-S cells elevates MHC-I thermal stability. RMA-S transfectants bind an exogenous peptide at concentrations 10(4)- to 10(6)-fold lower than parental RMA-S, as detected by complex-specific Abs and by T cell activation. Moreover, saturation of the transfectants' MHC-I by exogenous peptide occurs within 1 min, as compared with approximately 1 h required for parental cells. At saturation, however, level of peptide bound by modified cells is only 3- to 5-fold higher. Expression of native hbeta2m only results in marginal effect on the binding profile. Soluble beta2m has no effect on the accelerated kinetics, but the kinetics of transfectants parallel that of parental cells in the presence of Abs to hbeta2m. Ab inhibition and coimmunoprecipitation analyses suggest that both prolonged persistence of peptide-receptive H chain/beta2m heterodimers and fast heterodimer formation via lateral diffusion may contribute to stabilization. In vivo, peptide-loaded transfectants are considerably superior to parental cells in suppressing tumor growth. Our findings support the role of an allosteric mechanism in determining ternary MHC-I complex stability and propose membranal beta2m as a novel scaffold for CTL induction.     

Association with beta 2-microglobulin controls the expression of transfected human class I genes

The genes encoding HLA-B27K and HLA-B27W were transfected into murine recipient cells. A monoclonal antibody HC-10, directed against free B-locus heavy chain, was the only reagent capable of efficiently detecting the HLA-B27 heavy chains in detergent lysates. These heavy chains were devoid of sialic acid. Trace amounts of HLA-B27 could be isolated with the anti-HLA-A,-B antibody W6/32, which reacts with the heavy chain beta 2-microglobulin complex. In marked contrast, HLA-A2 and -B7 genes, when transfected, yielded easily detectable amounts of antigen precipitable with W6/32, which carried the usual complement of sialic acids. Because the alpha 3 domains of HLA-B27 and HLA-B7 and the more COOH-terminal portions are identical in amino acid sequence, structural elements in the polymorphic alpha 1 and alpha 2 domains must control association of heavy chain with beta 2-microglobulin. Introduction of a human beta 2-microglobulin gene into L cells transfected with the HLA-B27 gene rescued the expression of HLA-B27 at the cell surface, as evidenced by reactivity with W6/32, surface staining, and the presence of sialic acid on the heavy chain.     

Peptide and beta 2-microglobulin regulation of cell surface MHC class I conformation and expression.

We have examined the roles of peptide and beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) in regulating the conformation and expression level of class I molecules on the cell surface. Using a cell line synthesizing H-2Dd H chain and mouse beta 2m but defective in endogenous peptide loading, we demonstrate the ability of either exogenous peptide or beta 2m alone to increase surface H-2Dd expression at both 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C. Peptide and beta 2m show marked synergy in their abilities to increase surface class I expression, with minimal increases promoted by peptide in the absence of free beta 2m. Low temperature-induced molecules have indistinguishable rates of loss of beta 2m and alpha 1/alpha 2 domain conformational epitopes during culture at 37 degrees C. However, the rate of alpha 3 epitope loss is much slower, indicating a minimum of two steps in class I loss from the cell surface: 1) loss of beta 2m binding to H chain and unfolding of the alpha 1/alpha 2 region; then 2) denaturation, degradation, or internalization of the free H chains possessing alpha 3 epitopes. These data show for the first time that free H chains survive for a finite time on the membrane in a form capable of refolding into alpha 1/alpha 2 epitope positive molecules upon addition of beta 2m and peptide. This refolding in the presence of beta 2m and peptide can explain the reported requirement for both components in sensitizing cells for class I-dependent CTL lysis. It also indicates that such conformational changes in class I molecules are not strictly dependent on either newly synthesized H chains or on intracellular chaperons. The study of H chain-peptide-beta 2m interaction on the cell surface may be relevant to understanding intracellular peptide loading events.