The Igh-V locus of MRL mice: restriction fragment length polymorphism in eleven strains of mice as determined with VH and D gene probes

The MRL strain of mice is a model system that closely parallels the human autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus. Our analysis of the variable region genes of MRL mice showed that the MRL/lpr D genes were similar to those of the C3H mouse (Igh-C allotype j). This result was unexpected, because previous studies of the MRL/lpr and MRL/+ substrains suggested that they are allotype a at the Igh-1 (gamma 2a) locus of the constant region. The Igh-V (heavy chain variable region) locus of the MRL/lpr and MRL/+ strains of mice and their parents were therefore examined by restriction fragment length polymorphism with probes for the DSP2 and DFL16 gene families and with two cloned VH probes. Five other strains of mice were also included because the heavy chain locus of the LG mouse, which is the major progenitor of the MRL strains, has not been studied. The MRL substrains and the LG and C3H parents were indistinguishable at all the Igh-V loci studied. These results suggest that the MRL substrains and their LG parent are haplotype j at the Igh-V locus. The results obtained with D gene probes show that the DSP2 gene family is more polymorphic than the DFL16 gene family, which is relatively conserved. We have assigned Igh-V haplotypes for the four VH loci to the 11 strains of mice studied.     

T cell allotypic determinants encoded by genes linked to the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus. I. Establishment of monoclonal antibodies against allotypic determinants

Monoclonal alloantibodies for T cell allotypic determinants were obtained by hybridizing SP-2 tumor cells with BALB/c (H-2d, Igh-1a) spleen cells, which had been repeatedly immunized with Con A-stimulated CB-20 (H-2d, Igh-1b) spleen cells. It was found that these monoclonal anti-CB-20 antibodies detect the new allotypic determinants (distinct from the B cell Igh-C region determinant) expressed only on the augmenting or suppressor T cells. Genetic analysis of these antigenic determinants revealed these antibodies react with the gene products located on the telomeric side chromosome of the Igh variable region gene (Igh-V) cluster. These antibodies when given in vivo caused a modification of antibody production. The antibody activity was absorbed by Con A-stimulated B10.BR (H-2b, Igh-1b), C57BL/6 (H-2b, Igh-1b), CWB (H-2b, Igh-1b), CB-20 (H-2d, Igh-1b), and BAB-14 (H-2d, Igh-1b) spleen cells, but not by Con A-stimulated C3H.SW (H-2b, Igh-1j), BALB/c (H-2d, Igh-1a), A/Sn (H-2a, Igh-1e), and C.AL-20 (H-2d, Igh-1d) spleen cells. In addition, in vivo these monoclonal antibodies modified anti-SRBC antibody production only in Igh-1b allotype-bearing mice. One monoclonal antibody reacted with 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl acetyl- (NP) hapten-specific augmenting T cells, and the other two batches of monoclonal antibodies reacted with NP-specific suppressor T cells of NP-mediated cutaneous responses. A mapping study with these recombinants limits the gene coding for the T cell-specific determinants to a gene within the variable region to the telomeric side of NP-VH and to the centromeric side of prealbumin. This segment is inclusive of all immunoglobulin genes, the region Owen named IgT-C, and a histocompatibility gene (H-Ig).     

Virus specificity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes generated during acute lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection: role of the H-2 region in determining cross-reactivity for different lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus strains

We have compared the relatedness of five different strains of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) as assessed by LCMV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Several different mouse strains were injected with each of the five LCMV strains, and the cross-reactivity of virus-specific CTL generated during the acute infection was tested by killing on a panel of target cells infected with the various LCMV strains. We found that the cross-reactivity pattern of LCMV-specific CTL generated in mice of H-2d haplotype (BALB/c WEHI and DBA/2) was strikingly different from that in mice of H-2b haplotype (C57BL/6 and C3H.Sw/Sn), suggesting that the fine specificity of LCMV-specific CTL is a function of the H-2 region. The characteristic cross-reactivity patterns were also observed in (C57BL/6 X DBA/2)F1 mice, demonstrating that the repertoire of the H-2b- and H-2d-restricted LCMV-specific CTL is not changed as a result of complementation by gene products of the other major histocompatibility haplotype. Studies with congenic BALB.B10 and (BALB.B10 X BALB/c)F1 mice firmly established that the characteristic cross-reactivity patterns of LCMV-specific CTL map to the H-2 region and are not influenced by background genes outside the major histocompatibility locus. These results suggest that LCMV determinants seen in the context of H-2d-restricting elements are different from those seen in the context of H-2b-restricting elements. Moreover, our studies show that CTL can be used as probes for dissecting differences among various LCMV strains, but the degree of relatedness between the different LCMV strains is not absolute when measured by CTL recognition. Since the H-2 region regulates the fine specificity of CTL generated during LCMV infection in its natural host, the degree of cross-protective immunity developed during a viral infection apparently depends on the major histocompatibility haplotype. The importance of these findings lies in understanding susceptibility or resistance of various host populations to viral infections and in designing vaccination programs to provide immunity.     

H-40, an antigen controlled by an Igh-linked gene and recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. II. Recognition of H-40 as a tumor antigen in leukemic animals

C.B-20 (Ighb) but not (C.B-20 X BALB/c)F1 mice reject BCL1, a sIg+ tumor that spontaneously arose in an Igh congenic BALB/c (Igha) mouse. C.B-20 immune T cells from mice immunized with either BCL1 or BALB/c splenocytes adoptively transfer tumor protection to sublethally irradiated C.B-20 but not BALB/c or (BALB/c X C.B-20)F1 mice. These data suggest that BALB/c and BCL1 share an antigen, which if present in the host prevents the immune cells from eradicating the tumor. The antigen is controlled by H-40, a gene that maps to the C end of the Igh complex, telomeric to Tsu and in the region of Pre-1. The ability of H-40 to act as a tumor antigen for other BALB/c tumors inoculated into C.B-20 hosts was investigated. H-40 did not elicit rejection of P1798 (T lymphoma), Meth A (fibrosarcoma), or MOPC-315 (alpha, lambda myeloma) tumor cells. C.B-20 mice that previously rejected BCL1, however, showed partial resistance to a low challenge dose of the MOPC-104E (mu, lambda myeloma) tumor. These data suggest that H-40 has a differential degree of expression on BALB/c tumor cells. The ability of the adoptively transferred cells to confer protection against BCL1 is abrogated by pretreatment of the cells with anti-Lyt-1 or anti-Lyt-2 antibodies. However, an admixture of anti-Lyt-1- and anti-Lyt-2-treated cells provided protection. These data, together with the results detected by cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity in vitro, indicate that H-40 can serve as a target antigen for tumor rejection by CTL in allogeneic hosts. The implications of the results for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation into leukemic individuals who benefit from a graft vs leukemia effect are discussed.     

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte response to minor H-43a alloantigen in H-43b mice. Privileged H-2Kb restriction to the response is not due to immunodominance or epistatic effect but due to Ir gene function of H-2Kb itself

Previous study demonstrated that anti-H-43a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response of H-43b CWB (H-2b) stain carrying non-major histocompatability complex (MHC) genes of C3H and F1 strains raised by crossing CWB with various H-43b strains was restricted exclusively by self H-2Kb (Kb). In the present study, newly produced C3W strain (H-2k, H-43b), which is H-43-congenic to C3H/HeN (H-2k, H-43a), was used as H-43b mice, and possibility of immunodominance of Kb was examined. No anti-H-43a CTL response could be induced in C3W strain and F1 strains raised by crossing C3W with other H-43b strains not carrying Kb. Thus, the possibility of immunodominance of Kb over the other MHC class I alleles could not be supported. We also examined possibility of epistatic effect of I region genes and non-MHC genes on the Kb restriction. (C3W x C57BL/6)F1(I-Ak/b) and (C3W x B6.CH-2bm12)F1(I-Ak/bm12)mice showed equally anti-H-43a CTL response restricted exclusively by self Kb, and (C3W x B10.MBR)F1(Ik/k) mice also showed anti-H-43a CTL response restricted solely by self Kb. Cold target competition experiments demonstrated that H-43b C57BL/10 or A.BY mice, which do not have non-MHC genes of C3H mounted anti-H-43a CTL response restricted solely by self Kb. Thus, no relation of I region genes or non-MHC genes to the Kb restriction was shown. All the results indicate that H-43b mouse strains, including F1, can not achieve anti-H-43a CTL response unless they carry Kb allele. Notably, (C3W x C57BL/6)F1 mice mounted self Kb-restricted anti-H-43a CTL response, whereas (C3W x B6.CH-2bm1)F1 mice carrying mutated Kb could not mount anti-H-43a CTL response at all. These findings indicate strongly that Kb itself is classical Ir gene of anti-H-43a CTL response and directs self Kb restriction of the response.     

Growth inhibition of a B cell leukemia: evidence implicating an anti-idiotype immune response for protective tumor immunity

BCL1, a spontaneous surface IgM (mu lambda)-positive (sIgM+) B cell leukemia of BALB/c (Igha) origin rarely grows in the Ig heavy chain (Igh) congenic mouse C.B-20 (Ighb) but is highly metastatic and lethal in the host strain of origin. Previous studies indicated that BCL1 tumor immunity in C.B-20 mice was associated with a T cell-mediated immune response against H-40, a minor histocompatibility (H) antigen controlled by a gene linked to the Igh locus. However, we observed that BCL1 leukemia grew progressively in BAB-14 (Igha/b) mice, a strain capable of generating an anti-H-40 immune response. This suggested that anti-H-40 immunity was insufficient for protection and implied that an Igh-V (variable) region gene product was also important for BCL1 growth inhibition. We therefore evaluated the role of two possible Igh-V region-linked gene products in BCL1 growth inhibition; namely, an Igh-V region-linked minor H antigen or alternatively the BCL1 IgM idiotype (Id). We could find no evidence for an Igh-V region-linked minor H antigen because immunosuppressed (500 R) CB-20 mice reconstituted with C.B-20 anti-BAB-14 splenocytes were susceptible to BCL1 growth, whereas recipients reconstituted with C.B-20 anti-BALB/c splenocytes were resistant to BCL1 challenge. In contrast, C.B-20 mice immunized against purified BCL1 IgM protein could adoptively confer BCL1 tumor immunity. C.B-20 mice immunized against other BALB/c IgM myeloma proteins containing either lambda or kappa light chains failed to protect C.B-20 mice suggesting that recognition of a unique determinant (Id) and not an allotype was crucial for tumor immunity. The BCL1 mu-chain appeared to make the major contribution to the idiotypic determinant because a hybridoma product composed of BCL1 mu-chains and BALB/c kappa-chains still elicited BCL1 immunity. Adoptive transfer of C.B-20 anti-BCL1 Id splenocytes into irradiated recipients that prevented an anti-H-40 response due to H-40 tissue expression failed to adoptively confer BCL1 immunity. Thus, these data suggest that BCL1 growth inhibition requires a T cell-mediated response against both H-40 and the BCL1 Id; these responses must be elicited concurrently in the tumor-bearing host to achieve protective BCL1 immunity.     

Sequence and characterization of the Ig heavy chain constant and partial variable region of the mouse strain 129S1

Although the entire mouse genome has been sequenced, there remain challenges concerning the elucidation of particular complex and polymorphic genomic loci. In the murine Igh locus, different haplotypes exist in different inbred mouse strains. For example, the Igh(b) haplotype sequence of the Mouse Genome Project strain C57BL/6 differs considerably from the Igh(a) haplotype of BALB/c, which has been widely used in the analyses of Ab responses. We have sequenced and annotated the 3' half of the Igh(a) locus of 129S1/SvImJ, covering the C(H) region and approximately half of the V(H) region. This sequence comprises 128 V(H) genes, of which 49 are judged to be functional. The comparison of the Igh(a) sequence with the homologous Igh(b) region from C57BL/6 revealed two major expansions in the germline repertoire of Igh(a). In addition, we found smaller haplotype-specific differences like the duplication of five V(H) genes in the Igh(a) locus. We generated a V(H) allele table by comparing the individual V(H) genes of both haplotypes. Surprisingly, the number and position of D(H) genes in the 129S1 strain differs not only from the sequence of C57BL/6 but also from the map published for BALB/c. Taken together, the contiguous genomic sequence of the 3' part of the Igh(a) locus allows a detailed view of the recent evolution of this highly dynamic locus in the mouse.     

The composition of the T cell receptor repertoire in nude mice

Previous results from several laboratories have demonstrated the presence of functional T lymphocytes in congenitally athymic (nude) mice. The present study represents an analysis of the T cell receptor repertoire exhibited by such cells. Clones of H-2Kb-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) were generated under primary limiting dilution conditions by using spleen cells from nude mice. These clones were analyzed on a panel of Kb mutant target cells to assess the receptor specificity of each clone. Unlike thymic bearing mice the CTL repertoires of which are exceedingly diverse, it was found that in most cases the vast majority of clones from each individual exhibited the same reactivity pattern. The particular pattern varied from individual to individual. Clones from three animals that exhibited this phenomenon were additionally analyzed by using a monoclonal antibody that can detect the utilization of the gene products of the V beta 8 family. In one animal all clones were V beta 8 positive, whereas in the others, all clones were negative. We conclude that the T cell receptor repertoire in nude mice is extremely limited and represents in vivo expansion of a relatively small number of functional precursors.     

Igh-C allotype-linked control of anti-DNA production and clonotype expression in mice infected with Plasmodium yoelii

The infection of nonlethal strain of Plasmodium yoelii induces the formation of IgG anti-DNA antibodies as a result of polyclonal B cell activation. By using various nonautoimmune strains of mice including H-2 or Igh congenic or recombinant mice, the levels and clonotypes of anti-DNA antibodies elicited by the malaria infection were analyzed in relation to the expression of the MHC or Igh gene. Our results showed there were little, if any, differences in serum anti-DNA levels and their clonotypes among B10 and B6 H-2 congenic mice. In contrast, malaria-induced IgG anti-DNA responses markedly differed quantitatively and clonotypically between murine strains bearing the Ighb allotype and those bearing the Igha, Ighj, Ighd, or Ighn allotype. The latter group of mice produced approximately 5 to 10 times more IgG anti-DNA antibodies than the former group of mice. Clonotypically, mice bearing the Ighb allotype developed high alkaline anti-DNA antibodies of pH 8.0 to 8.5, whereas non-Ighb mice failed to express such alkaline anti-DNA spectrotypes, and exhibited more neutral spectrotypes (pH 7.0 to 8.0). Studies on the Igh recombinant mice indicated that the observed quantitative and clonotypical differences in IgG anti-DNA production was not associated with the variable region, but with the constant region of the Igh gene complex. Our results have suggested that IgG anti-DNA responses occurring as a result of polyclonal B cell activation during the course of malaria infection markedly differs quantitatively and clonotypically among murine strains and appear to be controlled at least in part by the Igh-C gene or gene(s) closely linked to it.     

Analysis of T cell activation requirements with the use of alloantigens or an anti-clonotypic monoclonal antibody

H-2Kb-specific alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones, which secrete macrophage-activating factor (MAF) in response to antigen, were used to study the antigenic and physiologic parameters for T cell-antigen receptor (Ti)-mediated activation. When H-2Kb was presented on untreated, formaldehyde (FOR)-fixed cells, or liposomes, optimal stimulation in the absence of co-factors was obtained only with the untreated cells. FOR cells, which were efficient inhibitors of CTL-target cell interactions for the CTL clones studied, had a greatly reduced activating capacity. Phorbol myristic acetate (PMA), which alone had no activating effect on the CTL clones, acted in synergy with FOR cells, restoring an unimpaired H-2Kb-dependent activation for some CTL clones. H-2Kb-liposomes were not stimulatory even in the presence of PMA and/or splenic feeder cells. For one H-2Kb-specific CTL clone (KB5-C20), activation was studied with the use of an anti-clonotypic (anti-Ti) monoclonal antibody (mAb), Désiré-1. By using this immunoglobulin (Ig) G2a mAb or its F(ab')2 or Fab fragments, it was observed that the association constant of the IgG2a (4.7 X 10(9) M-1) for KB5-C20 was 30-fold higher than that of the Fab fragment, whereas the molar concentration of mAb required to inhibit 50% of the H-2Kb-specific CTL activity of clone KB5-C20 was 70-fold to 90-fold higher for the Fab fragment than for the IgG2a (1 to 5 X 10(-10) M). It was also observed that activation as measured by MAF secretion of clone KB5-C20 was obtained by using the divalent IgG2a mAb or its F(ab')2 fragment at 10(-9) M to 10(-8) M in the absence of any added co-factor or feeder cells, whereas a 500-fold higher molar concentration of the Fab fragment only induced very low levels of MAF secretion. Also, in the presence of PMA, the mAb-mediated activation of MAF secretion by clone KB5-C20 was increased, but Fab-induced activation never resulted in high titers of MAF. We conclude that the intrinsic "affinity" of the H-2Kb-Ti interaction is probably so low for the Ti of clone KB5-C20 that efficient activation by H-2Kb is obtained only when multivalency is achieved on H-2Kb-expressing cells, and possibly when molecules on the T cells such as Lyt-2 and LFA-1 stabilize the interactions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

The origin of strain-specific differences in the specificity repertoires of murine cytolytic T lymphocytes

Previous studies, in which fine specificity analysis of CTL clones specific for the H-2Kb alloantigen was used to identify and distinguish the receptor of each clone, demonstrated that the composition of the CTL repertoire is influenced by at least two polymorphic genetic regions, the MHC and the IgH. By using double parent radiation chimeras of the type A + B----(A X B)F1, in which A and B differ at the MHC, it was found that the specificity repertoires of A and B, which normally differ in conventional mice of these strains, were very similar when CTLp were obtained from double parent chimeras. Therefore, the influence of MHC on repertoire was attributable to the environment in which the T cell developed rather than to an intracellular event. In the current study, this same strategy was used to determine whether IgH exerts its influence on the CTL repertoire at the environmental level as well. Double parent chimeras where constructed by using stem cells of BALB/c and B10.BR origin. Not only do these cells differ at the MHC, they also differ polymorphically at a large number of genetic regions including IgH and possibly T alpha structural genes. The results indicated that despite these genetic differences, the specificity repertoires of CTLp representative of the two different genotypes in the chimeras were very similar. Therefore, T cell repertoire differences that arise due to IgH polymorphism are determined by the developing environment. Additionally, these results suggest further that any genetic polymorphism which may exist within the T alpha gene complexes of these strains does not result in differences that can be detected within the CTL response to the Kb alloantigen.     

Clonal analysis of H-2Kb + TNP recognition by T cells with the use of H-2Kbm mutants and H-2Kb-specific monoclonal antibodies

Eleven long-term cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones derived from C57BL/10 T cells sensitized in vivo and in vitro with trinitrobenzene sulfonate- (TNBS) treated syngeneic cells were all restricted to the K end of H-2b. The fine specificity of these CTL clones was analyzed by using H-2Kbm mutant target cells and H-2Kb-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb). Seven distinct patterns of reactivity of the T cell clones could be observed with the use of six H-2Kbm mutant target cells. Further heterogeneity could be detected in terms of the ability of anti-Lyt-2 mAb to inhibit CTL activity. Cross-reactivity between H-2Kb + TNP and H-2Kbm + TNP was observed for all clones tested for bm5 and bm6, but less frequently for bm3 (8/11), bm8 (7/10), bm4 (4/11), and bm1 (3/11). It was further observed that amino acid substitutions located in the first domain only (one clone), or in the second domain only (six clones), or in either the first or the second domain (three clones) of the H-2Kb molecule could affect target cell recognition by a given T cell clone. the latter type of reactivity suggested that some clones recognized "conformational" determinants of the H-2 molecule, or that amino acid substitutions in one domain might influence the structure of the next domain. One H-2Kb + TNP-reactive clone exhibited a heteroclitic behavior with decreasing avidities for target cells expressing H-2Kbm8 + TNP, H-2Kb + TNP, and H-2Kbm8, which further extends the various patterns of T cell cross-reactions observed within a given class of MHC products. The use of H-2Kb-specific mAb in blocking studies as an attempt to define further the H-2Kb epitopes recognized by CTL clones indicated that: a) TNBS treatment may affect the antigenicity of the H-2Kb molecule as assessed by some mAb; and b) that the T cell clone-target cell interaction may or may not be inhibited by a given mAb, depending on structural variations of the H-2Kb molecule (use of H-2Kbm mutants) that do not affect the interaction itself. These results indicate that this type of analysis does not permit correlation of serologic- and T cell-defined epitopes.     

MHC polymorphism can enrich the T cell repertoire of the species by shifts in intrathymic selection

The murine class I molecule H-2Kb and its natural gene conversion variant, H-2Kbm8, which differs from H-2Kb solely at 4 aa at the bottom of the peptide-binding B pocket, are expressed in coisogenic mouse strains C57BL/6 (B6) and B6.C-H-2bm8 (bm8). These two strains provide an excellent opportunity to study the effects of Mhc class I polymorphism on the T cell repertoire. We recently discovered a gain in the antiviral CTL repertoire in bm8 mice as a consequence of the emergence of the Mhc class I allele H-2Kbm8. In this report we sought to determine the mechanism behind the generation of this increased CTL diversity. Our results demonstrate that repertoire diversification occurred by a gain in intrathymic positive selection. As previously shown, the emergence of the same Mhc allele also caused a loss in positive selection of T cell repertoire specific for another Ag, OVA-8. This indicates that a reciprocal loss-and-gain pattern of intrathymic selection exists between H-2Kb and H-2Kbm8. Therefore, in the thymus of an individual, a new Mhc allele can select new T cell specificities, while abandoning some T cell specificities selected by the wild-type allele. A byproduct of this repertoire shift is a net gain of T cell repertoire of the species, which is likely to improve its survival fitness.     

Role of hapten-anchoring peptides in defining hapten-epitopes for MHC-restricted cytotoxic T cells. Cross-reactive TNP-determinants on different peptides.

Synthetic hapten-peptide conjugates selectively modify cell-bound MHC class I molecules in a haplotype-specific way. We investigated the contribution of the carrier peptides to the structural specificity of T cell-antigenic TNP epitopes, using different H-2Kb-binding TNP-peptides and a collection of TNP/Kb-specific CTL clones. Adjustment of peptide sequences to the proposed Kb-specific "motif" (octamers with F or Y and L in positions 5 and 8, respectively) enhanced Kb-binding and antigenicity by many orders of magnitude. Moreover, several clones reacted to peptides, containing the "motif" and TNP-lysine in position 4 but were otherwise unrelated by sequence. TNP in other positions was not recognized by these cells, but other CTL reacted to TNP in position 7. This points to the positioning of hapten determinants within the MHC binding groove as a major role of the anchoring peptide. However, determination of the limiting amounts of TNP peptides that elicit antigenicity or inhibit other Kb-restricted CTL reactions revealed that TCR also recognize variations in the sequences of carrier peptides. This contribution is low for TNP in position 4 but high in position 7, indicating lysine in position 4 as a particularly dominant and cross-reactive hapten-anchoring site in Kb-associated peptides. This implies that cell modification with lysine-reactive TNP reagents results in immunodominant, highly repetitive TNP epitopes, which may explain the strong antigenicity and the allergenic properties of TNP, as well as the restricted TCR repertoire directed against this hapten. Our data further recommend hapten peptides for general studies of TCR-Ag interactions because in contrast to pure protein Ag, hapten epitopes tolerate substantial structural variations in the MHC-anchoring peptide, and can be located by hapten-specific antibodies.     

Changes in replication, nuclear location, and expression of the Igh locus after fusion of a pre-B cell line with a T cell line

We have previously observed that replication and nuclear location of the murine Igh locus are developmentally regulated during B cell differentiation. In non-B, B, and plasma cells, sequences near the 3' end of the Igh locus replicate early in S while upstream Vh sequences replicate late in S, and the Igh locus is located near the nuclear periphery. In fact, in MEL non-B cells, replication of a 500-kb segment containing Igh-C and flanking sequences occurs progressively later throughout S by 3' to 5' unidirectional fork movement. In contrast, in pro- and pre-B cells, the entire 3-Mb Igh locus is located away from the nuclear periphery and replicates early in S by forks progressing in both directions. In this study, using an 18-81 (pre-B) x BW5147 (T) cell fusion system in which Igh expression is extinguished, we found that in all Igh alleles, Vh sequences replicated later in S than 3' Igh sequences (similar to that detected in BW5147), but the Igh locus was situated away from the nuclear periphery (similar to that observed in 18-81). Thus, pre-B cell-derived Igh genes had changes in replication timing, but not in nuclear location, whereas T cell-derived Igh genes changed their nuclear location but not their replication timing. These data are consistent with the silencing of a pre-B cell-specific replication program in the fusion hybrid cells and independent regulation of the nuclear location of Igh loci.     

The target minor H antigen for F1 cytotoxic T lymphocytes induced by Igh-congenic parental spleen cells is coded for by gene linked to H-2

Graft-vs-host reaction (GvHR) induced in (B10.BR X CWB)F1 (BWF1; H-2k/b, Ighb/b) by i.v. injection with CWB (H-2b, Ighb) spleen cells resulted in complete suppression of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responsiveness of the F1 host spleen cells (GvHR-associated immunosuppression). In contrast, GvHR induced in BWF1 mice with CSW (H-2b, Ighj; Igh-congenic to CWB) spleen cells did not affect CTL responsiveness of the F1 host spleen cells at all. The BWF1 hosts undergoing the CSW-induced GvHR generated anti-CSW CTL in their spleens, and the subsequent culture of such BWF1 spleen cells with CSW stimulator cells, augmented the CTL activity. The BWF1 anti-CSW CTL lysed both Con A- and LPS-induced splenic blasts from mouse strains carrying the Ighj allele in the context of self H-2Kb. However, determination of the Igh haplotype in the serum IgG and of the susceptibility of the splenic lymphocytes to the BWF1 anti-CSW CTL on backcross mice, which carry either Ighb/j or Ighb/b in the context of H-2b/b or H-2b/k, showed clearly that Ighj and the gene coding for the target antigen for the BWF1 anti-CSW CTL segregated at ratios close to 1:1. The study in which linkage between the gene(s) coding for the target antigen for the BWF1 anti-CSW CTL and H-2 was examined on CWB X (C3H X CWB)F1 backcross mice and (B10.BR X CSW)F1 X B10 mice demonstrated that the gene, most likely a single gene, coding for the target antigen for the BWF1 anti-CSW CTL is located at 8.5 +/- 4.3 cross-over units to the right or left of the H-2 complex. We designated the minor H antigen to be recognized by the BWF1 anti-CSW CTL as H-X+, and we discuss the distinction between the H-X+ locus and the other minor H loci on chromosome 17.     

Immunodominance in the T cell response to multiple non-H-2 histocompatibility antigens. IV. Partial tissue distribution and mapping of immunodominant antigens

The immunization of C57BL/6 responder mice with spleen cells from H-2-matched BALB.B donors, which differ by multiple non-H-2 histocompatibility (H) antigens, results in the generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) that are specific for only a limited number of immunodominant antigens. Previous analysis of the genes encoding these dominant antigens has not mapped these genes to any of the non-H-2 H loci defined by congenic strains. It would have been expected that the histogenetic techniques employed for congenic strain selection would have preferentially identified the "strongest" H antigens. Therefore, we have investigated the possibility that immunodominant antigens do not belong to the class of non-H-2 H antigens encoded by genes mapping to H loci defined and mapped by congenic strains. The first experiments were aimed at identifying antigens that were expressed by independently derived inbred strains and were cross-reactive with the immunodominant cytotoxic T cell target (CTT-1) antigen of BALB.B. Strong cross-reaction with the C3H.SW (H-2b) strain was observed; the C3H gene encoding this antigen was mapped with BXH recombinant inbred strains. Contrary to the mapping of the CTT-1 gene to chromosome 1 in BALB.B, the C3H gene was shown to map to either chromosome 4 or chromosome 7. This result indicates that identical, or at least extensively cross-reactive, non-H-2 antigens may be encoded by genes mapping to independently segregating loci in different inbred strains. The tissue distribution of immunodominant antigens was approached by determining the reactivity of CTL specific for these antigens with either lymphoid-derived or fibroblast-derived targets. These CTL effectively lysed lymphoblast and lymphoid tumor targets but did not lyse an SV40-transformed fibroblast line that was shown to be efficiently lysed by CTL specific for non-H-2 H antigens defined by congenic strains. Therefore, it was concluded that immunodominant antigens detected by B6 anti-BALB.B CTL have a restricted tissue distribution in comparison to non-H-2 H antigens defined by congenic strains. The implications of these results for our understanding of the origin and heterogeneity of non-H-2 cell-surface antigen recognized by effector T cells are discussed.     

Use ofH-2 mutations to quantitate alloreactivity: Alloreactivity is strongest against H-2 antigens which are closest to self

Lymph-node cells fromH-2 allogeneic, intra-H-2 recombinant andH-2 mutant congenic strains were sensitized in limiting dilution cultures to quantitate the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte precursor frequencies (CTL.Pf) against antigens encoded by different regions of theH-2 complex. When fourH-2K ^b mutants of C57BL/6 (B6) were tested, we observed anti-B6 CTL.Pf that were as high or higher than those of recombinant strains which differ from B6 at theK end of theH-2 complex. Relative to strains completelyH–2 allogeneic to B6, the CTL.Pf inH-2 ^bm1,H-2 ^bm3 andH-2 ^bm5 averaged 40–50 percent, andH-2 ^bm8 averaged 140 percent. Recombinant strains B10.A (4R) and B10.D2 (R103), which differ from B6 at theK end of theH-2 complex, averaged 60 percent of the completelyH-2 allogeneic value. Since the mutant and wild-type gene products have no serological and minimal structural differences relative to other alleles atH-2K, these results indicate that the CTL.Pf does not increase with increasing H-2 antigenic disparity between any two strains. Rather, the data suggests that the T-cell receptor repertoire recognizes those H-2 molecules or determinants closest to self.     

H-2D(b-/-) mice are susceptible to persistent infection by Theiler's virus

H-2(b) mice are resistant to persistent infection of the central nervous system by Theiler's virus. They clear the infection 7 to 10 days after intracranial inoculation. Resistance maps to the H-2D gene and not to the H-2K gene and is associated with a potent antiviral cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response. We used H-2(b) mice in which the H-2D or the H-2K gene had been inactivated to dissect the respective roles of these genes in resistance. We report that H-2D(-/-) but not H-2K(-/-) mice were susceptible to persistent infection. Furthermore, whereas H-2K(-/-) mice mounted a vigorous virus-specific CTL response, similar to that of control C57BL/6 mice, the CTL response of H-2D(-/-) mice was nil or minimal. Using target cells transfected with the H-2D(b) or the H-2K(b) gene, we showed that the H-2K-restricted CTL response against the virus was minimal in H-2D(-/-) mice. These results demonstrate that the H-2D(b) and H-2K(b) genes play nonredundant roles in the resistance to this persistent infection.     

Thymocyte antigens do not induce tolerance in the CD4+ T cell compartment.

Thymocytes fail to tolerize the developing T cell repertoire to self MHC class I (MHC I) Ags because transgenic (CD2Kb) mice expressing H-2Kb solely in lymphoid cell lineages reject skin grafts mismatched only for H-2Kb. In this study, we examined why thymocytes fail to tolerize the T cell repertoire to self MHC I Ags. The ability of CD2Kb mice to reject H-2Kb skin grafts was age dependent because CD2Kb mice older than 20 wk accepted skin grafts. T cells from younger CD2Kb mice proliferated, but did not develop cytotoxic functions in vitro in response to H-2Kb. Proliferative responses were dominated by H-2Kb-specific, CD4+ T cells rather than CD8+ T cells. Representative CD4+ T cell clones from CD2Kb mice were MHC II restricted and recognized processed H-2Kb. TCR transgenic mice were generated from one CD4+ T cell clone (361) to monitor development of H-2Kb-specific immature thymocytes when all thymic cells or lymphoid cell lineages only expressed H-2Kb. Thymocyte precursors were not eliminated and mice were not tolerant to H-2Kb when Tg361 TCR transgenic mice were intercrossed with CD2Kb mice. In contrast, all thymocyte precursors were eliminated efficiently in thymic microenvironments in which all cells expressed H-2Kb. We conclude that self MHC I Ags expressed exclusively in thymocytes do not induce T cell tolerance because presentation of processed self MHC I Ags on self MHC II molecules fails to induce negative selection of CD4+ T cell precursors. This suggests that some self Ags are effectively compartmentalized and cannot induce self-tolerance in the T cell repertoire.