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Expression of nonclassical MHC class I (RT1‐U) in certain neuronal populations of the central nervous system
Author(s) -
Lidman Olle,
Olsson Tomas,
Piehl Fredrik
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1460-9568.1999.00904.x
Subject(s) - major histocompatibility complex , mhc class i , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , in situ hybridization , messenger rna , transporter associated with antigen processing , neuroscience , gene expression , gene , genetics
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes consist of classical (Ia) and nonclassical (Ib) types. Recently, a set of structurally similar MHC class Ib genes in the rat, denoted RT1‐U, was described. We here demonstrate expression of RT1‐U mRNA using highly stringent oligonucleotide in situ hybridization in several different neuronal populations, including different motor nuclei and the substantia nigra in the rat MHC (c) and (n) haplotypes under normal conditions. The expression pattern for β2‐microglobulin mRNA was almost identical. In contrast, neuronal expression of classical MHC class I (RT1‐A) was low. Interestingly, after mechanical nerve injury, glial cells predominantely upregulated expression of RT1‐A, whereas neuronal expression of RT1‐U remained unchanged. Neuronal expression of nonclassical MHC class I may thus be important for immune surveillance in the nervous system.