THE EXPRESSION OF H-2K, H-2D AND Ia ANTIGENS IN VARIOUS TISSUES AS ASSESSED IN Fc RECEPTOR INHIBITION SYSTEMS

The ability of mouse alloantibody to inhibit EA rosette formation and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) was used to study the expression of H-2K, Ia and H-2D antigens in various tissues. As previously reported antisera against each of these groups of antigens inhibited B lymphocyte EA rosette formation. Continuing studies confirmed these observations but established that quantitative differences may exist in the ease with which antibody against antigens in each region can inhibit EA rosettes: anti H-2D and anti-Ia seemed stronger relative to their cytotoxic titres than anti H-2K. Possible reasons for this are discussed. When rosette forming cells from other tissues were studied, (bone marrow cells, peritoneal macrophages and tumour cells), they were inhibited by anti H-2K and anti H-2D sera but not by anti Ia sera, presumably reflecting the restricted distribution of Ia antigens in those tissues. Inhibition of ADCC by various antisera reflected qualitatively and quantitatively the expression of H-2 antigens in various tissues: whereas effector cell activity in spleen, bone marrow, or peritoneal cell populations was inhibited by anti H-2 or anti-Ia sera, the amount of inhibition observed with anti-Ia was much less when the tissue expressed little Ia antigen (bone marrow) than when it expressed abundant Ia antigen (spleen). The ability of cytotoxicity inhibition to detect antibody coated cells was used to assess the relative amount of Ia antigen on thymus and on lymph node cells, showing significant amounts of Ia antigen on thymus cells. Fc receptor inhibition studies may thus be useful as new approaches to the study of the expression of the antigens of the major histocompatibility complex.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/74647/1/j.1744-313X.1975.tb00547.x.pd

Induction of Apoptosis and T Helper 2 (Th2) Responses Correlates with Peptide Affinity for the Major Histocompatibility Complex in Self-reactive T Cell Receptor Transgenic Mice

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease thought to be mediated by CD4+ T helper cells (Th). Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis is a rodent model of multiple sclerosis and has been used extensively to explore a variety of immunotherapies using soluble protein or peptide antigens. The underlying mechanisms of such therapy have been attributed to induction of T cell anergy, a switch in Th1 to Th2 responses, or peripheral deletion of autoreactive T cells. In this study, we have developed transgenic mice expressing a T cell receptor (TCR) specific for the NH2-terminal peptide Ac1-11 of the autoantigen myelin basic protein to explore the mechanism of soluble peptide therapy. T cells from these mice are highly skewed toward the CD4 population and have an abnormal thymic architecture, a phenomenon found in other TCR transgenic mice that exhibit a highly skewed CD4/CD8 ratio. Soluble Ac1-11 or the analogues Ac1-11[4A] or Ac1-11[4Y] (which bind to the major histocompatibility complex [MHC] class II molecule I-Au with increasing affinities) given intravenously activates T cells, rendering cells hyperresponsive in vitro for at least two days after injection. Concomitantly, T cells apoptose in the periphery, the degree of which correlates with the affinity of the peptide for the MHC. In addition, a shift in the T helper phenotype of the surviving T cells occurs such that the low affinity peptide, Ac1-11, induces primarily a Th1 response, whereas the highest affinity peptide, Ac1-11[4Y], induces primarily a Th2 type response. These data show that both the nature and the presumed number of the peptide–MHC complexes formed during specific peptide therapy affect both the degree of peripheral programmed cell death as well as the outcome of the T helper subset response in vivo, leading to amelioration of disease

Surface-associated proteins of Staphylococcus aureus: their possible roles in virulence

A class of proteins that are associated with the cell surface of Gram-positive bacteria has been recognised. Common structural features which are implicated in the proper secretion and attachment of these proteins to the cell surface occur in the C-termini. N-terminal domains interact with the host by binding to soluble host proteins, to matrix proteins or to host cells. They probably have important roles in pathogenicity by allowing bacteria to avoid host defences and by acting as adhesins. Four such proteins of Staphylococcus aureus have been characterised: protein A (immunoglobulin binding protein), fibronectin binding proteins, collagen binding protein and the fibrinogen binding protein (clumping factor). Site-specific mutants are being used to define their roles in pathogenesis in in vitro and in vivo models of adherence and infection