Histocompatibility genes (theH-2 complex) and susceptibility to spontaneous lung tumors in mice

The incidence of spontaneous lung tumors in relation toH-2, the major histocompatibility complex, was studied in congenic strains of mice on the B10-, A-, and C3H-backgrounds.The most relevant results were obtained with congenic strains on the B10-background. The strains could be divided into two groups: one with a low frequency of spontaneous lung tumors carrying the haplotypesH-2 ^b ,H-2 ^h4 ,H-2 ^d ,H-2 ⁱ H-2 ^r and one with a higher incidence of lung tumors carrying the haplotypesH-2 ^f ,H-2 ^m ,H-2 ^h2 ,H-2 ^a . The differences between these two groups were highly significant.Analysis of the results obtained with the recombinant strains indicated that genes in theIB region determined the susceptibility to the development of spontaneous lung tumors.The comparison of the results in the B10, B10.A and A strain has shown that the incidence in the B10.A strain carrying the haplotypeH-2 ^a derived from the highly susceptible strain A (H-2 ^a ) on the resistant background strain B10 (H-2 ^b ) is intermediate between these two strains. This shows, that other genes of the background are also involved.The lung tumor incidence in (B10.A × B10)F₁ hybrids was intermediate between the two parental strains.The results obtained in the strains C3H with the haplotypeH-2 ^k , C3H.B10 with the haplotypeH-2 ^b and C3H.NB with the haplotypeH-2 ^p , were inconclusive because of the early mortality which occurred among the animals of these strains. The strains A (H-2^a) and A.SW (H-H-2 ^s ) were both equally susceptible.     

Genetic control of acquired resistance to visceral Leishmaniasis in mice

A series ofH-2 and non-H-2 congenic resistant (CR) strains on a C57BL/10Sn background were infected with 10⁷ amastigotes ofLeishmania donovani. Non-H-2 congenic strains B10.LP-H-3 ^b and B10.CE(30NX) and (B10.LP-H-3 ^b × B10)F₁ hybrids showed a very rapid decrease in liver-parasite burdens beyond day 21. Parasite counts for these strains at day 35 were significantly lower than for all other strains tested. The rapid decrease in parasite numbers, massive lymphocellular infiltration into the liver and strong delayed hypersensitivity reactions to parasite antigens in strains congenic for a portion of chromosome 2 indicated that acquired immunity toL. donovani was controlled by a dominant gene at or near theIr-2 locus. In addition, B10.129(10M) mice, which differ from C57BL/10Sn at theH-11 locus, showed highly significant increases in parasite numbers at day 35. Other observations supporting the absence of acquired immunity in B10.129(10M) included negative delayed hypersensitivity tests to parasite antigens and the absence of lymphocellular infiltrate into the liver. Although the differences were not as pronounced,H-2 CR strains withH-2 ^b ,H-2 ^a , andH-2 ^k haplotypes also showed significantly greater decreases in parasite numbers by day 35 as compared to otherH-2 CR strains.     

H-2 influences phenytoin binding and inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis

We have reported that susceptibility to glucocorticoid- and phenytoin-induced cleft palate and glucocorticoid receptor levels in mice are influenced by the H-2 histocompatibility complex on chromosome 17. Phenytoin competes with glucocorticoids for the glucocorticoid receptor and inhibits production of prostaglandins and thromboxanes. In this paper we have investigated whether, as in the case of glucocorticoids, phenytoin receptor levels and phenytoin-induced inhibition of prostaglandins are influenced by H-2 in a variety of mouse tissues. Using congenic strains varying only in the H-2 region, but otherwise having either the A/Wy(A) or B10(B) genetic background, we demonstrate here that phenytoin receptor content in the lung and liver is significantly higher in the strains with H-2 ^a (A/Wy and B 10.A) than in their corresponding H-2 ^b partners (A.BY and B 10). The H-2 complex also influences phenytoin-induced inhibition of the release of ³H-arachidonic acid and prostaglandin biosynthesis from thymocytes, prelabeled with ³H-arachidonic acid. Thus, these results suggest a similar genetic and biochemical pathway for the teratogenic action of both phenytoin and glucocorticoids.     

Corticosteroid-induced cleft palate in mice and H-2 haplotype: Maternal and embryonic effects

This report confirms and expands on the original preliminary observations made by Bonner and Slavkin that corticosteroid-induced cleft palate in mice is associated with H-2 haplotype. Using three congenic strains, B10, B10.A, and B10.D2, our studies demonstrate that B10.A (H-2 ^b) is most susceptible and B10.D2 (H-2 ^d) is least susceptible, B10 (H-2 ^b) being intermediate. Variation in fetal loss among strains accounts for less than 1 percent of the variation in cleft-palate frequency among strains; variation in H-2 haplotype, however, accounts for more than 60 percent of the variation in cleft-palate frequency. With regard to all possible reciprocal F₁ hybrids, our results indicate that while there is a significant maternal effect, maternal haplotype can account for only 11 percent of the variation in cleft-palate frequency among crosses. Embryonic haplotype accounts for 17 percent of the variation, which is indicative of an important embryonic effect. Finally, our studies suggest that susceptibility to corticosteroid-induced cleft palate is associated with the K end of the H-2 complex.     

I-region linked complementing loci in resistance to viral leukemogenesis in the mouse

A-RadLV, a variant of the radiation leukemia virus, inoculated intrathymically into adult mice, causes a high frequency of leukemia in haplotypesb, f, k, d, p andj on the B10 background, whereas H-2^S mice are resistant. Resistance is dominant and segregates withH-2 ^S in the offspring of (b×s)b and (b×t ₂)b backcrosses. Analysis of recombinant strains revealed that resistance is associated withI-A andI-B. B10.A(5R), a recombinant of two sensitive haplotypes, was found to be resistant, suggesting intra-H-2-gene complementation. The resistance of such complementing loci was demonstrated also in thetrans position by testing F₁ mice bred from sensitive parents. These data are taken to suggest thatI-region linked complementing loci, similar to classicalIr genes, may be involved in resistance to murine leukemia.     

Murine responses to (Tyr-Glu-Ala-Gly)n: II. H-2 and non-H-2 gene effects

Mice of the H-2^b haplotype responded to the sequential polymer poly(Tyr-Glu-Ala-Gly) in the in vitro T-cell proliferative assay, irrespective of whether they were homozygous or heterozygous at the H-2^b locus. The antibody responses of the H-2^b congenic mice to this polymer were variable, with A.BY and BALB.B showing responses better than those of C57BL/6 and C57BL/10 strains. The antibody responses of the F₁ progeny of (responder × nonresponder) strains of mice to this polymer are generally lower than the responder parents. F₁ mice with C57BL/10 background were the poorest responders. Studies with F₂ mice and backcross progenies of selective breeding of high and low antibody responder (C57BL/6 × BALB/c) F₁ to high responder C57BL/6 mice indicated that both non-H-2 genes and H-2 gene dosage effects influenced the magnitude of the humoral antibody responses. Animals having low responder non-H-2 background and only half the dosage of the responder immune response genes has greatly diminished antibody responses.     

The production,testing, and utility of double congenic mouse strains

Two new double congenic strains, B10-H-2 ^a H-7 ^b /Wts and B10-H-2 ^d H-7 ^b /Wts, were selected to differ from B10.A and B10.D2/o, respectively, at theH-7 locus. The survival time ofH-7-incompatible skin grafts is dependent upon theH-2 haplotype of recipient and donor.     

The role ofH-2 regions in overcoming tissue incompatibility

Neonatal transplantation tolerance to the products of theH-2 ^b complex was induced in B10.A (H-2 ^a ) mice. On the basis of the survival of skin allografts it was found that antigens determined by theD region of theH-2 ^b complex (of the B10.A(2R) strain) were most easily overcome and that tolerance to the products of theD end of theH-2 complex (of the B10.A(4R) strain) was also easy to induce. The antigens produced by theK end ofH-2 (of the B10.A(5R) and B10.A(3R) strains) represented a stronger incompatibility barrier and a difference in the entireH-2 ^b complex caused strongest resistance to tolerance induction. When tolerance to the products of the entireH-2 ^b complex was induced in newborn B10.A mice, and the neonatally treated animals were grafted simultaneously with five different grafts, those disparate at theK end ofH-2 and in the entireH-2 region were rejected in some animals, while the grafts disparate at theD end of H-2 remained intact in the same mice. No dependence on theI-J subregion was observed in this system. Furthermore, tolerance was more easily inducible in male than in female B10.A mice.     

Tumour-induced altered gastrointestinal steady-states: absence of MHC restriction in the paraneoplastic gastrointestine

Abstract The growth of a number of experimental rodent tumours including the Lewis lung tumour (LLca) progressively compromises the integrity of the host's gastrointestine by inducing cytokinetic alterations in the small bowel resembling those generally defining the intestinal phase of a graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR). To determine whether the induction of this paraneoplastic gastrointestine (PGI) involves, similar to a GVHR, a disparity between the MHC of the donor (LLca tumour) and the recipient (host), PGI development was evaluated in various LLca tumour-bearing murine strains that were either ‘syngeneic’[C57BL/6 and BL/10 (H-2^b)], ‘semisyngeneic’[B6D2F₁ (H-2^bd) and B6C3F₁ (H-2^bk)] or ‘allogeneic’[C3H/HeJ (H-2^k) and DBA/2 (H-2^d)] to the H-2^b LLca tumour. The temporal appearance and magnitude of a PGI developing in either LLca-syngeneic or semi-syngeneic hosts, but not the allogeneic strains, suggested that the mechanism(s) involved in PGI development, like the GVHR, was restricted by the MHC. Subsequent studies using congenic strains [B10.A (H-2^k) and B10.D2/nSn (H-2^d)], however, demonstrated that the mechanism(s) responsible for the PGI was restricted by the non-MHC loci of the C57BL mouse. These observations were supported by the appearance of a LLca-induced PGI in various B10.A congenic strains carrying mutations at the I-A or I-E/I-J loci of the MHC. Not unlike the intestinal phase of a GVHR, development of the PGI required the participation of enhanced mucosal mast cells which were limited in the WCB6F₁ (S1/S1^d) but not the (+/+) murine strains. These observations are discussed in light of the postulated premature migration of immature thymocytes that accompany tumour growth and their ability to non-specifically enhance (or suppress) cell mediated immune reactions in the host.     

Natural resistance of irradiated 129-strain mice to bone marrow allografts: Genetic control by theH-2K region

A major genetic determinant of natural resistance to bone marrow allografts, designated asHh-3, was mapped to theH-2K region. This gene may code for or regulate the expression of cell surface structures selectively expressed on donor hemopoietic cells and recognized by naturally occurring cytotoxic effectors. Resistance was observed as failure of donor cell growth in the spleen of irradiated 129-strain (H-2 ^bc ) recipients of H-2^k bone marrow cells. The mapping was accomplished by substituting donor cells bearingk alleles throughout theH-2 complex with cells of recombinant mouse lines bearingk alleles at definedH-2 regions. The host antigraft reaction underlying resistance was abrogated by pretreating 129-strain mice with either rabbit antimouse lymphocyte serum or the antimacrophage agent silica. Grafting of H-2K^k cells into mice ancestrally unrelated to 129 but sharing theH-2 ^bc or the similarH-2 ^b haplotype, and intoH-2 ^b/k ,H-2 ^k/bc , andH-2 ^k/d F₁ hybrids revealed that resistance was unique to 129 mice, since mice of the other strains, including F₁ hybrids, were susceptible to the grafts. Thus,Hh-3 incompatibility was a necessary but insufficient condition for the manifestation of allogeneic resistance; other genetic factors not associated withH-2 conferred responder status to 129-strain mice and nonresponder status to D1.LP, B10.129(6M), B10, B6, and possibly to F₁ hybrid mice. The possible relationships between allogeneic resistance to H-2^k marrow grafts, hybrid resistance to H-2^k lymphomas, and F₁ hybrid antiparental H-2^k cytotoxicity induced in vitro are discussed.     

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in congenic strains of mice

Inbred mice and lines congenic to them for the major histocompatibility complex were similar in susceptibility to EAE except for moderate differences in two pairs. TheH-2 haplotypesq, s, andb occurred in inbred strains and in congenic lines of high, medium, or low susceptibility. It is concluded that the major histocompatibility complex does not control susceptibility to EAE in mice. Furthermore, the low susceptibility of DBA/1J mice was not enhanced by poly A-U.     

H-2-associated differences in androgen-influenced organ weights of a and C57BL/10 mouse strains and their crosses

The influence ofH-2 haplotypes (in three-month-old males) on body weight, vesicular gland, testes, and thymus weight was investigated in A, B10, and B10.A strains and their respective F₁, F₂, and Bc progeny. The influence of theH-2 haplotypes was found to contribute to heterosis in the body weight.H-2 ^a/H-2 ^a males have a smaller vesicular gland and larger testes and thymus weight thanH-2 ^b/H-2 ^b males when groups with an identical or comparable genetic background are compared.H-2 heterozygous classes are closer to the parental strain with higher values for absolute organ weight; for relative organ weight, the heterozygous classes are intermediate or closer to the parental strain with lower values. This complex situation results from the simultaneous action ofH-2 haplotypes on both organ weight (Hom-1 effect) and body weight (heterosis), which probably operate through different mechanisms. Coat color genes were found to modify the penetrance ofH-2 influence on quantitative traits.     

Xid-defective male (CBA/N x C57BL/6)F1 accessory cells present bovine insulin to long-term cultured F1-restricted T-cells

The reactivity of H-2^b-restricted murine T cells towards bovine insulin was reported to depend on the expression of Ia.W39, a private specificity of I-A^b, on antigen-presenting cells. Cells of male (CBA/N x B6)F₁ mice carrying the mutation xid on the X chromosome lack Ia.W39 on the cell surface. These cells are unable to present bovine insulin to primed T cells derived from female (CBA/N x B6)F₁ mice. We show here that spleen cells of male (CBA/N x B6)F₁ hybrids served perfectly as accessory cells for the insulin-dependent induction of a proliferative response of long-term cultured T cells with (B10 x B10.BR)F₁ genotype, restricted to recognizing insulin in the context of F₁-unique I-A determinants. The epitope on the insulin molecule essential for stimulation was determined to depend on the glutamic acid residue in position 4 of the A chain of insulin. This contrasts with the H-2^b-restricted response of B6 mice to bovine insulin, which appears to be directed at the A chain loop determinant (amino acids A8 and A10). These data suggest that distinct I-A^b-encoded structures, the expression of which is regulated independently, may serve as components of restriction elements for H-2^b and (H-2^b x H-2^k)F₁ restricted T cells, which are specific for different epitopes of bovine insulin.     

Hierarchy ofH-2 haplotypes governs inheritance of immune responsiveness to TNP-MSA

Production of indirect TNP-specific plaque-forming cells (PFC) in response to immunization with 2, 4, 6-trinitrophenyl (TNP) conjugated to autogenous mouse serum albumin (MSA) in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) is underH-2 control. On the C57BL/10 (B10) background,H-2 ^b andH-2 ^d strains of mice are high responders, whereasH-2 ^a ,H-2 ^k orH-2 ^y2 strains yield low levels of indirect TNP-specific PFC. An unusual pattern of inheritance has been revealed in B10 congenic mice: high responsiveness controlled byH-2 ^b is inherited recessively, while high responsiveness controlled byH-2 ^d is inherited dominantly. On the C3H and A strain backgrounds, high responsiveness controlled byH-2 ^b is partially recessive;H-2 ^b /H-2 ^a F₁ mice respond with 20%-40% of the high responderH-2 ^b response. Yet, high responsiveness controlled by theH-2 ^d haplotype remains dominant on the C3H background. A hierarchy of haplotypes in order of decreasing immune responsiveness to TNP-MSA is evident as follows:H-2 ^d >H-2 ^b >H-2 ^k ,H-2 ^a orH-2 ^y2 . The unusual patterns of inheritance in the TNP-MSA system reveal graded regulation of responsiveness attributable to bothH-2 and non-H-2 genes.     

Immune response to the Slp alloantigen in the mouse:H-2-linked qualitative and quantitative control

Immunization of inbred mouse strains lacking the Slp allotype results in the production of Slp antibodies in some strains but elicits no detectable response in other strains. Analysis of standard inbred and congenic resistant strains reveals that both the qualitative and quantitative ability to respond to the Slp allotype is associated with theH-2 haplotype of the recipient. Three different response phenotypes can be identified utilizing complement fixation and quantitative immunodiffusion tests. Strains which carry theH-2 ^q haplotype are high responders,H-2 ^k strains are intermediate in response, whileH-2 ^b andH-2 ^v strains produce no detectable antibody. The characteristic response patterns of high and intermediate responders were manifest by day 35 of immunization and continued as discrete response types after a second booster. Quantitative data in the immune response of the intra-H-2 recombinant B10.A(4R) suggest that the recombination event which established theH-2 ^h4 chromosome disturbs the proper function of the genetic determinant controlling response to Slp.     

Study of H-2 mutations in mice. IV. A comparison of the mutants M505 and Hz1 by skin grafting and serological techniques

The line B6.M505 is congenic with C57BL/6JY and carries a mutant form of theH-2 ^b haplotype designatedH-2 ^bd . The mutant site 505 was located by the F₁ tests in theK end of theH-2 gene complex. The M505 mice are histoincompatible with the B6.C(Hz1) line (haplotypeH-2 ^ba ) carrying another mutation in theK end ofH-2 ^b . Inability of M505 to complement Hz1 in tests with B6 skin grafting is considered as an evidence that the same gene was altered by both mutations. The gained H antigens of two mutants can cross-react in vivo as revealed by accelerated rejection of Hz1 skin grafts by B6 recipients presensitized with M505 spleen cells. The lost antigenic determinants are not identical as shown by accelerated rejection of B6 skin grafts by Hz1 hosts preimmunized with M505 spleen cells. Absorptions of the antiserum ASY-015, (d×a) anti-i, anti-H-2.33 with M505 spleen cells did not clear forH-2 ⁱ ,H-2 ^b andH-2 ^ba , and absorptions with Hz1 did not clear forH-2 ⁱ ,H-2 ^b , andH-2 ^bd . These results show that changes of histocompatibility determinants may be accompanied by loss of some haptenic determinants in the Hz1 and M505 mutations.     

Interacting genetic factors controlling the antibody response against the H-2.2 specificity

The antibody response against the H-2.2 specificity has been studied in three H-2 ^d strains, B10.D2, DBA/2, and BALB/c, and their hybrids (B10.D2 × DBA/2)F₁ and (B10.D2 × BALB/c)F₁. The genetic control of the response appears to be complex: The three pure strains are responders, whereas both hybrids when immunized with C3H-HTG are nonresponders. Individual analysis of N3 offspring is compatible with the idea that, in this combination, an Ea-4 incompatibility between donor and immunized strain is necessary for the anti-H-2.2 response to occur. H-2 ^d /H-2 ^k hybrids (B10.BR × B10.D2)F₁ or (B10.BR × DBA/2)F₁ are responders when immunized with C57BL/10 (H-2 ^b ) but not with B10.A(2R) (H-2 ^h ), indicating that simultaneously recognized H-2 specificities are necessary for the anti-H-2.2 response.     

Thirteen new chromosome-7 congenic lines

Thirteen new congenic lines have been produced which have chromosome-7 segments introduced from different strains onto the C57BL/10Sn background. Sublines B10.P(61NX)C,D, and E received chromosome-7 segments from P/J, B10.CE(62NX) from CE/J, B10.SEC(64NX)A,C,E, and F from SEC/1Re, B10.SM(65NX) from SM/J, B10.WB(66NX) from WB/Re, B10.A(67NX) from A/SnGrf, B10.AKR(68NX) from AKR/SnGrf, and B10.K(69NX) from C3H.K. Isograft testing indicated that three sublines, B10.P(61NX)D, B10.CE(62NX)B, and B10.WB(66NX)B are histoisogenic, i.e., histocompatible within each line. With the exception of B10.A(67NX), B10.AK(68NX), and B10.K(69NX), which have not been isografted, the remaining sublines showed residual heterozygosity on isografting. The three histoisogenic lines have undergone F₁ testing and have been found to possess theH-4 ^a allele and new and distinct alleles at theH-1 locus. They have been designated B10.P(61NX)-H-4^a H-1 ^d , B10.WB(66NX)-H-4^a H-1 ^e , and B10.CE(62NX)-H-4^a H-1 ^f . Direct exchange of grafts has indicated the following genotypes: B10.A(67NX)-H-4^a H-1 ^b , B10.AK(68NX)-H-4^a H-1 ^b , and B10.K(69NX)-F-4^a H-1 ^b . The B10.SEC(64NX) and B10.SM(65NX) sublines have not been typed completely forH-4 andH-1. F ₁ testing or direct exchange of skin grafts indicated that B10.P(61NX)-H-4^a H-1 ^d , B10.WB(66NX)-H-4^a H-1 ^e , B10.A(67NX)-H-4^a H-1 ^b B10.AK(68NX)-H-4^a H-1 ^b and B10.K(69NX)-H-4^a H1 ^b possess nonon-H-1 histocompatibility differences from the G57BL/10 background.     

Glyoxalase I activity inH-2 b andH-2 d cells

Erythrocytes and thymocytes of theH-2 ^d genotype express between 1.6 and 2.6 times as much glyoxalase I activity per milligram of protein as those of theH-2 ^b genotype; the activity in theF ₁ (H-2^b/H-2^d) cells is intermediate between these two values. Activity of glyoxalase II is not affected by the H-2 genotype. The H-2^d:H-2^b ratio of glyoxalase I activity is higher in the BALB background where it is 2.6:1 than in the B10 background where it is 1.6:1. Thermal denaturation kinetics of enzymes from the H-2^b and H-2^d genotype cells are the same.     

CML typing of serologically identicalH-2 mutants

Cell-mediated lympholysis (CML) reactions were studied among four strains of C57BL/6 (B6) mice carrying mutant alleles (H-2 ^ba ,H-2 ^bd ,H-2 ^bg , andH-2 ^bh ) at thez1 locus in theK end ofH-2 ^b and the original B6 (H-2 ^b ) strain. Cross killing of target cells from lines that had not participated in the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) was extensive, but usually less intense than that of target cells of stimulator cell genotype. The extent of CML crossreactivity could be limited by using cells from F₁ hybrid mice as responders in MLR. In a comprehensive analysis of the cytotoxicity exerted by 20 MLR combinations with homozygous, and 10 MLR combinations with F₁ hybrid responder cells, 19 different CML cytotoxicity patterns were identified, corresponding to at least 19 different CML target specificites. When the number of CML mismatches of each mutant with the originalH-2 ^b was calculated,H-2 ^ba was found to be most distinct fromH-2 ^b ,H-2 ^bs andH-2 ^bd were closest toH-2 ^b , andH-2 ^bh occupied an intermediate position. The validity of this sequence of relatedness is supported by published reports on skin graft survival times and on the interaction of T lymphocytes with virus-infected target cells using cells fromz1 locus mutants.