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THE H‐2 COMPLEX: IMMUNOGENICITY AND ENHANCEMENT STUDIES OF H‐2K REGION ALLOANTIGENS
Author(s) -
McKenzie I. F. C.,
Henning Margaret M.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
international journal of immunogenetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.41
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1744-313X
pISSN - 1744-3121
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-313x.1977.tb00907.x
Subject(s) - immunogenicity , antiserum , antigen , congenic , immunization , locus (genetics) , biology , antibody , histocompatibility , major histocompatibility complex , virology , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , genetics , gene , human leukocyte antigen
SUMMARY Antigenic differences arising from incompatibilities at the K region of the H‐2 complex of the mouse (including the H‐2K locus) were studied in different combinations to determine the immunogenicity of K k , K q and K s region products. Only congenic strains and selected recombinant strains were used, so that the only known differences arose from the K region of the H‐2 complex. In males, first grafts were rejected in 12–13 days so that, as immunogens, K region antigens were equivalent to those of H‐2I. If the H‐2 histocompatibility loci are ranked in decreasing order of the immunogenic strength of their antigenic specificities: H‐2K = H‐2I > H‐2D > H‐2IC. Second grafts were rejected more rapidly than first skin grafts. After immunization by either lymphocytes or a single skin graft, high cytotoxic antibody titres were achieved, e.g. 1/512, after lymphocyte immunization. However, it was not possible by the passive administration of antiserum to delay graft rejection and produce enhancement by any antisera directed only against K region specificities. In several different combinations studied, it was proved that antigenic differences arising from the I region but not the K region are essential to produce an enhancing antiserum for K + I region differences. In particular, differences incorporating IA and IB are more important than IC differences. However, when differences arise only from the K region, enhancement cannot be produced by any antiserum, whether it contains anti‐Ia antibodies or not, presumably as there is no I region incompatibility.