Inhibition of T-lymphocyte-mediated tumor-specific lysis by alloantisera directed against the H-2 serological specificities of the tumor

After appropriate in vivo or in vitro immunization, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are generated which efficiently kill cells bearing particular membrane antigens in common with the immunizing cell (reviewed in reference 1). Such CTL have been most thoroughly studied in mice, employing alloimmunization with cells differing at the major histocompatibility locus, H-2. in such cases, the predominant cell surface antigens recognized by the CTL appear to be the molecules carrying the serologically defined H-2 specificities, coded for by the K and D regions of the H-2 complex (2). In other syngeneic models of cell-mediated specific cytolysis, involving lymphocyte chariomeningitis (LCM) virus- or ectromelia virus-infected cells or TNP-modified lymphoid cells, thymus-derived cells also constitute the main effector cell type. The CTL generated in these latter systems function most efficiently when virus-infected or TNP-modified target cells share identitites at the H-2K or H-2D loci with the effector CTL and stimulator cells (3-5). Another set of experimental systems in which CTL are generated and play a significant biological role is that of immunity to tumor-associated antigens (TAA) (6). The nature of the TAA which the CTL recognize is only beginning to be understood. Several recent reports indicated the existence of physiochemical and/or antigenic relationships between TAA and H-2 antigens (7,8). These relationships, together with the genetic restrictions cited above in the generation of CTL involving products of the H-2K or H-2D loci suggested the possibility that in certain tumor systems, the TAA which are able to most effectively stimulate CTL responses might be structurally similar to, or linked with, the H-2K or H- 2D molecules on the tumor surface. It has been previously demonstrated in allogenic models that antisera specific for the appropriate H-2K or H-2D products present on a target cell could specifically block CTL-mediated lysis (1,9). This report demonstrates that certain anti-H-2 alloantisera specific for the target tumor cells can block lysis of those target cells mediated by syngeneic tumor-specific CTL effector cells.     

On the role of the H-2 histocompatibility complex in determining the specificity of cytotoxic effector cells sensitized against syngeneic trinitrophenyl-modified targets

Spleen cells cultured with syngeneic trinitrophenyl (TNP)-modified stimulator cells display a cytotoxic effect against syngeneic TNP- modified targets, but not against modified targets from unrelated H-2 haplotypes. Targets that share the K and I region of the H-2 complex with the stimulator (or effector) cell are lysed to the same extent as the specific targets, while targets that share the I region only are not. When only the D region is shared, a weak cytotoxic effect is observed. Therefore, the stimulator (or effector) and target cell must share the K or D but not the I region of the H-2 complex in order for optimal cytotoxicity to occur. Spleen cells sensitized to irradiated TNP-modified H-2-allogeneic cells are cytotoxic to these specific cells. Coculture of F1 hybrid cells with irradiated TNP-modified parental cells result in a cytotoxic effect against only those specific parental cells and not TNP-modified cells from the other parent. The cytotoxic effect of the F1 effector cells in the cell-mediated lympholysis test is blocked by the addition of unlabeled TNP-modified targets that are H-2 syngeneic with the sensitizing parental strain, but not H-2 syngeneic with the other parental strain. These data demonstrate that the specificity of the effector cell in this syngeneic cytotoxicity system is directed against altered self H-2-controlled- gene products, rather than a requirement for sharing of histocompatibility genes between effector and target cell in order for lysis to occur. The role of H-2 antigens in determining the sensitivity of a target cell to T-cell-mediated lysis is discussed.     

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes induced against allogeneic I-region determinants react with Ia molecules on trinitrophenyl-conjugated syngeneic target cells

The major histocompatibility complex codes for determinants which are recognized by and serve as targets for cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) (1). Antigens coded for by the K and D loci of the H-2 complex can activate xenogeneic or allogeneic CTL (2,3). In addition, the H-2K or H-2D gene products function as those molecules against which syngeneic CTL responses specific for chemical, viral, and minor H antigens are directed (4-8). It has recently been shown that Ia determinants can also serve as target antigens for distinct but weaker CTL responses (9-13). Those clones which recognize Ia antigens see them independently of K- or D- coded antigens as shown in genetic studies and by antisera-blocking experiments (12,13). We have proposed that the existence of clones of CTL specific for I-region-coded determinants is not fortuitous; rather these clones specifically recognize Ia determinants and may have an immunoregulatory role. These CTL may affect those immune functions which are at least partially dependent on or controlled by I-region-coded molecules. Two predictions can be made and tested concerning the role of Ia determinants in cytolytic systems and the role, if any, of I-region- specific CTL in regulating the immune response: (a) that if as we and others have shown, certain Ia specificities can serve as a third series of major histocompatibility antigens, then Ia antigens should be susceptible to the same types of antigenic modifications as H-2K- or H-2D-coded structures and thus serve as targets for CTL directed against modified-self in selected systems; and (b) that allogeneically induced I-region-specific CTL should demonstrate cross-reactivity with targets bearing modified syngeneic I-region-coded determinants. Data will be present which demonstrates that trinitrophenyl (TNP)-modified syngeneic I-region determinants can serve as targets for CTL induced by allogeneic Ia antigens.     

Cell-mediated immunity in lumphocytic choriomeningitis. I. The specificity of the cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

The specificity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) generated during murine lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) has been investigated. CTL were obtained from the spleens of mice injected i.p. with LCM virus. The cytotoxic activity of the CTL was tested in an in vitro 51Cr cytotoxicity assay using infected macrophages or fibroblasts as target cells. At the peak of the cytotoxic T cell response (7-8 days after infection) the cytotoxic action was restricted to syngeneic virus-infected target cells. Using H-2 recombinant mice the target antigen of the CTL generated could be identified as products coded for by either the H-2 K or H-2 D region of the major histocompatibility complex. I region identity between CTL and infected target cells was insufficient for optimal lysis to occur. During the early phase of LCM virus infection there was a transient phase during which non-infected H-2 histocompatible targets were lysed as efficiently as virus-infected target cells. This finding may suggest, that during the early phase of LCM disease self-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes are temporarily present in LCM virus-infected mice.     

Induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes against I-region-coded determinants: in vitro evidence for a third histocompatibility locus in the mouse

Determinants controlled by the I region of the murine H-2 complex provoked the generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in both a secondary and primary mixed lymphocyte culture. The stimulating determinants appeared to be controlled by loci within the I-A subregion. The target antigens of the CTL generated were present on both lipopolysaccharide- and concanavalin-induced blast lymphocytes, but were barely detectable on phytohemagglutinin-induced blast cells. The stimulating capacity for CTL induction of a complete H-2 complex incompatibility by far exceeded the sum of H-2D/K-region and I-region incompatibility, respectively.     

Genetic control of cytolytic T-lymphocyte responses. I. Ir gene control of the specificity of cytolytic T-lymphocyte responses to trinitrophenyl-modified syngeneic cells

The ability of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) induced in vitro to trinitrophenyl (TNP)-modified syngeneic cells to cross-reactively lyse a TNP allogeneic spleen target varies among inbred mouse strains. The cross-reactive CTL phenotype was found to be histocompatibility 2 (H-2) linked and to be dominant in F1 hybrid mice. All strains investigated demonstrated cross-reactivity except for some strains bearing portions of the H-2k haplotype. The gene(s) controlling this response maps to the K and/or I-A region of the H-2 complex. We have termed the immune response (Ir) gene responsible for controlling the specificity of CTL induced to TNP-modified syngeneic cells Ir-X-TNP.     

Viral specificity of H-2-restricted T killer cells directed against syngeneic tumors induced by Gross, Friend, or Rauscher leukemia virus.

Cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) were generated against murine tumors induced by Gross, Friend, or Rauscher leukemia virus (LV) in syngeneic mixed leukocyte-tumor cell cultures. Analogous to the patterns of specificity observed with antibodies to LV-induced cell surface antigens, CTL could be classified into two major groups of specificity. Tumor cells induced by Friend, Moloney, or Rauscher virus and positive for the FMR antigen were killed by syngeneic CTL immune to any one of these three LV; the same CTL, however, were incapable of killing syngeneic tumor cells induced by Gross LV. The converse was true for Gross LV-specific CTL: these CTL were specific for syngeneic tumor cells expressing the Gross virus-associated cell-surface antigen (GCSA), and not the FMR antigen. The H-2 specificities of the two groups of LV-immune CTL were also compared, because in both cases, CTL were restricted in their killing activity to H-2-identical tumor target cells. When CTL from single strains of mice were generated against syngeneic FMR- or GCSA-positive tumor cells, differences were observed with respect both to the requirement for the expression of compatible H-2K or H-2D specificities, and to the intensity of the CTL response in congenic mice of the H-2b, H-2d, and H-2k haplotypes.     

The major histocompatibility complex determines susceptibility to cytotoxic T cells directed against minor histocompatibility antigens

Cytotoxic cells were generated by immunizing one strain of mouse with cells from an allogeneic strain which carries the same H-2 region. The effector cells assayed in a 4 h 51Cr release assay were shown to be T cells and indistinguishable, except in specificity, from cytotoxic T cells directed at H-2 alloantigens. Although the genetic differences between responder and stimulator cells responsible for the immunization did not code in H-2, the H-2 complex did restrict susceptibility of target cells. For example, BALB.B cytotoxic cells (H-2b) immunized against and capable of lysing C57BL/6 cells (H-2b) would not lyse B6.C/H-2d target cells. C57BL/6 and B6.C/H-2d are congenic and differ in the H-2 region. Two hypotheses are considered to explain the H-2 restriction of susceptibility to cytotoxic T cells generated by an H-2 identical alloimmunization. (a) The dual (self) recognition hypothesis states that the cytotoxic cell has two recognition units, one for H-2-coded structures and another clonally restricted receptor for the minor alloantigen. (b) The interaction antigen hypothesis states that all the surface alloantigenic determinants recognized by cytotoxic T cells are the result of interaction between H-2- and non-H-2-coded gene products. Two lines of evidence, one with F1 effector cells and the other a cold target competition experiment, are presented which argue strongly in favor of the interaction antigen hypothesis. The regions of H-2 required to be histocompatible were mapped to the D region and to the left of IC, probably the K region. These results, and recent work on the response to virus-infected and TNP-modified syngeneic cells, suggest that cytotoxic cells are restricted in specificity to preferentially recognizing alterations in structures that are coded in the major histocompatibility complex.     

Self-recognition specificity expressed by T cells from nude mice. Absence of detectable Ia-restricted T cells in nude mice that do exhibit self-K/D-restricted T cell responses

The presence in athymic nude mice of precursor T cells with self-recognition specificity for either H-2 K/D or H-2 I region determinants was investigated. Chimeras were constructed of lethally irradiated parental mice receiving a mixture of F1 nude mouse (6-8 wk old) spleen and bone marrow cells. The donor inoculum was deliberately not subjected to any T cell depletion procedure, so that any potential major histocompatibility complex-committed precursor T cells were allowed to differentiate and expand in the normal parental recipients. 3 mo after reconstitution, the chimeras were immunized with several protein antigens in complete Freund's adjuvant in the footpads and their purified draining lymph node T cells tested 10 d later for ability to recognize antigen on antigen-presenting cells of either parental haplotype. Also, their spleen and lymph node cells were tested for ability to generate a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response to trinitrophenyl (TNP)-modified stimulator cells of either parental haplotype. It was demonstrated that T cell proliferative responses of these F1(nude)----parent chimeras were restricted solely to recognizing parental host I region determinants as self and expressed the Ir gene phenotype of the host. In contrast, CTL responses could be generated (in the presence of interleukin 2) to TNP-modified stimulator cells of either parental haplotype. Thus these results indicate that nude mice which do have CTL with self-specificity for K/D region determinants lack proliferating T cells with self-specificity for I region determinants. These results provide evidence for the concepts that development of the I region-restricted T cell repertoire is strictly an intrathymically determined event and that young nude mice lack the unique thymic elements responsible for education of I region-restricted T cells.     

Multiple H-2-linked immune response gene control of H-2D- associated T-cell-mediated lympholysis to trinitrophenyl-modified autologous cells: Ir-like genes mapping to the left of I-A and within the I region

One of the more recent associations of the murine H-2 major histocompatibility complex (MHC) with immune function has been the finding that cytotoxic T-effector cells generated by sensitization with viral-infected (1-6), chemically modified (7-9), or weak transplantation antigen-associated (10,11) syngeneic cells can efficiently lyse target cells which express the same viral, chemical, or weak antigenic agent, and which share the H-2K and/or H-2D regions of the MHC with the responding and/or stimulating cells. Furthermore, an additional contribution of a gene(s) within the H-2 complex has been demonstrated which controls immune response potential (Ir genes) in the generation of cytotoxic effector cells to trinitrophenyl (TNP)-modified self components (12,13). In such studies it was found that certain B10 congenic strains generated good cytotoxic responses to both TNP- modified H-2K and H-2D region products, whereas other B10 congenic strains exhibited preferential or exclusive reactivity against TNP-modified H-2K region products. Some of these recombinant strains differing in response potential to TNP- modified H-2D products expressed the same haplotype at the D end, but differed at the K end of H-2. The low responsiveness observed in the B10.A strain to TNP-modified H-2D(d) when compared to B10.D2 and (B10.A x B10.D2)F(1) for the same specificity, suggested a role of dominant Ir genes which map in K, I-A, I-B, I-J, and/or I-E (12, 14). In the present report an attemnpt was made to further map within the MHC the Ir gene(s) controlling cell-mediated lympholysis (CML) to TNP-modified H-2D(d), by using recombinant mouse strains on the A and B10 backgrounds. Irrespective of the genetic background, the s and k haplotypes at the K end generated high and low cytotoxic responses, respectively, to H-2D(d)-TNP. The intermediate responder and low responder status of the A.TL and A.AL strains, respectively, indicated that a gene mapping in the K region of H-2 influences response potential. Furthermore, the differences in the levels of cytotoxicity detected in the A.TH and A.TL strains suggested an additional I region influence. Taken together these findings raise the possibility that multiple genes mapping within different regions of the MHC control the level of T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity to chemically modified autologous cells.     

Cell-mediated lympholysis of N-(3-nitro-4-hydroxy-5-iodophenylacetyl)- beta-anaylglycylglycyl-modified autologous lymphocytes. Effector cell specificity to modified cell surface components controlled by the H-2K and H-2D serological regions of the murine major histocompatibility complex

Splenic lymphocytes from four C57BL/10 congenic mouse strains were sensitized in vitro to N(-3-nitro-4-hydroxy-5-iodophenylacetyl)-beta-alanylglycylglycyl-(N) modified autologous lymphocytes. The effector cells generated after 5 days of culture were assayed on a series of either N-modified phytohemagglutinin-stimulated spleen cells or N-modified tumor cells. The results indicated in all cases that both N modification of the targets and H-2 homology between the modified stimulating and target cells are required for lysis to occur. In each case the effector cells were found to lyse N-modified target cells only when there was homology at either or both ends of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) between the stimulator and target cells. B10.BR lysed targets sharing alleles at K (or K plus I-A) and/or at D. B10.A effector cell specificity was mapped to K (or K plus I-A) and/or the D half of the MHC (D or D plus I-C and/or S). The two regions of specificity determined for B10.D2 effector cells were D (or D plus S plus I-C) and a region not including D of the MHC. C57BL/10 effector cells lysed N-modified targets only if there was target cell H-2 homology at K, I-A, and I-B or at the D serological region. As in the trinitrophenyl (TNP) system (6) B10.BR and B10.A effector cells lysed targets sharing K end H-2 serological regions greater than target cells sharing D-end serological regions. The C57BL/10 effector cells were shown to react to the K end greater than the D end, which differed from the equal reactivity seen in the TNP system for this strain. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that the antigen recognized by the effector cell includes an altered H-2 serological cell surface product. That the reaction is not "hapten specific" and the H-2 homology is required only for effector:target cell interaction was excluded by the use of two F1 combinations in which lysis of only N-modified target cells sharing the H-2 haplotype with the stimulating parental strain was obtained. Finally, it was demonstrated that N and TNP modification create distinct new antigenic determinants, since an effector cell sensitized to one modifying agent will lyse only H-2 matched target modified with that same modifying agent.     

Use of DNA-mediated gene transfer to analyze the role of H-2Ld in controlling the specificity of anti-vesicular stomatitis virus cytotoxic T cells

Mouse thymidine kinase (tk-) C3H L (H-2k) cells transformed by the technique of DNA-mediated gene transfer with the herpes simplex virus tk gene together with the BALB/c H-2Ld gene express H-2Ld molecules indistinguishable from their counterparts on spleen cells. An established cloned cell line (8-5) was used to assess the function of the H-2Ld antigen in determining the specificity of alloreactive as well as anti-vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) cytotoxic T cells (CTL). Both anti-H-2d and anti-H-2Ld CTL displayed a cytotoxic effect against 8-5 cells but not a control cell line transformed with the tk gene only (tk+ cells). Further evidence that 8-5 cells express H-2Ld was provided by the finding that monoclonal anti-H-2Ld but not H-2Dd antibodies blocked target cell lysis by the effector cells. Both BALB/c (H-2d) and DBA/2 (H-2d) animals generated anti-VSV CTL that lysed infected 8-5 but not tk+ cells. To further establish that H-2Ld controlled the specificity of the effector cells, a monoclonal antibody directed against H-2Ld was shown to inhibit lysis of infected 8-5 target cells. To determine whether other H-2d-encoded gene products could serve as restricting antigens for anti-VSV CTL in BALB/c animals, unlabeled VSV infected 8-5 cells were tested for their ability to block lysis of 51chromium-labeled P815 (H-2d)-infected target cells. The 8-5-VSV inhibitor cells inhibited lysis to a slightly lesser extent than unlabeled P815-VSV cells, indicating that H-2Ld plays a major if not exclusive role in restricting anti-VSV CTL in H-2d animals.     

Exclusive involvement of H-2Db or H-2Kd product in the interaction between T-killer lymphocytes and syngeneic H-2b or H-2d viral lymphomas.

It was demonstrated previously that the cytolysis of murine viral lymphoma cells by anti-murine sarcoma virus (MSV) syngeneic T-killer lymphocytes was restricted by some products of the H-2 complex. The respective role of the products of different regions of the H-2 complex were studied with six H-2(b) and three H-2(d) lymphomas induced by five different type C viruses. They were tested in a classical chromium release test against anti-MSV T-killer cells obtained from different inbred strains of mice, including several H-2 recombinants. Tumors o£ the H-2(b) haplotype were lysed only when effectors and target cells have in common the D(b) region. On the contrary an identity limited to the K end of the H-2 complex is necessary and sufficient in the H-2(d) haplotype. An in vitro restimulation of the spleen cells with concanavalin A strongly increased the activity of in vivo-primed T lymphocytes but did not provide any response for in vivo-primed but nonresponder cells. Preincubation of the tumor cells with anti-H-2 sera abolished the lysis by syngeneic anti-MSV effector lymphocytes. The same results were obtained by preincubating the H-2(b) targets with anti-H-2D(b), or the H-2(d) target with anti-H-2K(d). Preincubation with anti-H-2K(b) or anti- H-2D(d) were ineffective. These results show that the T-killer/target cells interaction in the MSV system involved some products of the H-2 complex which might be different with the various H-2 haplotypes and could possibly vary according to the antigenic specificity. A specific association of a viral product with a normal cellular structure, directed by the H-2 region during the viral budding could explain the observed results.     

Soluble factors in tolerance and contact sensitivity to 2,4- dinitrofluorobenzene in mice. III. Histocompatibility antigens associated with the hapten dinitrophenol serve as target molecules on 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene-immune T cells for soluble suppressor factor

Previous studies have shown that suppression of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) contact sensitivity by soluble suppressor factor (SSF) requires that the donor of immune lymph node (LN) cells and of SSF share either the H-2K and/or H-2D region of the major histocompatibility complex. Thus, target or acceptor molecules for SSF appear to be coded for by genes within the H-2K and H-2D loci. Experiments were done to investigate the nature of these target molecules and to determine what cell types expressed them. It was found that purified lymph node T cells are suppressed by SSF indicating that T cells express the acceptor molecules. Adsorption experiments showed that the only cells capable of adsorbing the suppressor factor are DNFB-immune T cells from donors which share with the factor-producing strain either the H-2K or H-2D locus. This adsorption can be specifically blocked by pretreating the immune LN cells with antibodies directed against H-2K and/or H-2D determinants or against the hapten DNP but not by antibodies against Ia or theta-antigens. Collectively, these results indicate that the target molecules are expressed only by DNFB-immune T cells and are comprised of histocompatibility antigens associated with DNP.     

Helper T cells for cytotoxic T lymphocytes need not be I region restricted

We investigated the antigenic requirements for restimulation of H-2- restricted cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) in vitro to determine whether H-2 I region-restricted helper T cells are required in these responses. In one set of experiments, we studied the in vitro response of (responder x nonresponder)F(1) female T cells to the male antigen H-Y. We chose to examine this response because it has been suggested that the defect in nonresponder strains is a failure of helper T cells to recognize H-Y in association with nonresponder I region determinants. However, we find that nonresponder male stimulator cells are as effective as F(1) male stimulator cells at inducing H-Y-specific CTL responses. This finding calls into question reports that secondary CTL responses to H-Y are dependent upon the activation of H-Y- specific helper T cells restricted to responder type I region determinants. In a second set of experiments, we examined the requirements for restimulation of H-2-restricted T cells specific for minor-histocompatibility antigens from long-term mixed lymphocyte cultures. These cultures were established by repeatedly restimulating cultures of specific T cells with H- 2-matched stimulator cells expressing foreign minor histocompatibility antigens. We found that H-2D-restricted T ceils, including CTL, could be restimulated with cells that were matched with the responding cells at only the D region genes. This response did not appear to result from positive allogeneic effects or from antigen processing and “representation” by responder type APC that might contaminate the cultures. Thus, we find no evidence for a requirement for I region-restricted helper T cells in these CTL responses. However, helper T cells are required because we find that CTL lines derived by limit-dilution cloning from these long-term MLC are absolutely dependent upon exogenous helper factors for growth. The most simple interpretation of these results is that the helper cells are restricted to H-2 antigens other than I region antigens or to antigens that code outside of the H-2 complex. Finally, we show that factor-dependent CTL lines must recognize their specific antigen to proliferate, even in the presence of exogenous factors. The requirement of activated CTL for antigen to proliferate provides an explanation for how specific CTL can be selectively enriched in MLC by specific antigen stimulation. Furthermore, it is at variance with reports that memory CTL or activated CTL require only interleukin 2 for restimulation.     

Allospecific cytolytic T lymphocytes recognize conformational determinants on hybrid mouse transplantation antigens

Alloreactive cytolytic T cell (CTL) lines and clones have been used to identify the sites of polymorphism of antigens of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Specific CTL were generated against wild-type H-2b products by cells from H-2b mutant mice that had one or a few amino acid changes in either the alpha 1 or alpha 2 domains of the Kb or Db class I molecules. These CTL populations, which might be expected to react with determinants expressed on single MHC domains, were examined for lytic activity on L cells expressing newly constructed hybrid class I molecules. Transformed cell lines expressing native class I molecules or hybrid class I molecules in which the alpha 1 and alpha 2 domains of H-2Kb had been substituted by those domains of H-2Db were lysed by H-2Db-specific CTL. Similarly, all H-2Kb-specific CTL recognized hybrid molecules in which the alpha 1 and alpha 2 domains of H-2Kb were inserted into the H-2Db molecule. In contrast, exchange of the alpha 1 domains of H-2Kb and H-2Db resulted in a total loss of recognition by Kb and Db-specific CTL. These results suggest that the allodeterminants recognized by H-2 mutant CTL are influenced by interactions between the alpha 1 and alpha 2 domains, findings similar to those seen using conventional alloreactive T cells (11). These results were compared to the binding of alloreactive mAbs, including 5 new mAbs specific for the Kb molecules. Finally, it was shown that primary and secondary CTL responses could be generated by direct sensitization against hybrid class I molecules, demonstrating that these molecules express neoantigenic determinants recognized by alloreactive CTL.     

Involvement of H-2L gene products in virus-immune T-cell recognition. Evidence for an H-2L-restricted T-cell response

The H-2L locus is closely linked to H-2D and codes for antigenic specificities present on a 45,000 mol wt glycoprotein that is distinct from the molecule which bears the D region private specificity. It was found that BALB/c-H-2db mice, which lack detectable cell-surface H-2L gene products, were able to generate influenza- and vaccinia-immune cytotoxic T cells which lyse D region-compatible target cells, although they have been reported to be incapable of making a similar response to ectromelia virus (7). Thus, the lack of H-2L antigenic specificities does not produce a general loss of responsiveness for other viruses even when a highly cross-reactive pox virus (vaccinia) was studied. Antisera-blocking experiments utilizing sera specific for either L or D molecules indicated that BALB/c mice generate influenza virus-immune cytotoxic T-cell subsets which independently recognize H-2L and H-2D gene products in association with viral antigens. These results are the first indication that products of the H-2L locus can operate analogously to H-2K/D gene products in virus-immune T-cell recognition.     

Molecular relationship between private and public H-2 antigens as determined by antigen redistribution method.

Molecular relationship of public H-2 antigens 1, 5, 6, 8, 11, 13, 25, and 28 to private antigens controlled by K and D regions was studied using the technique of antibody-induced resistance to complement-mediated cytotoxicity. The results indicate physical association in the cell membrane between H-2 antigens 1 and 23 of H-2-a, 8 and 31 of H-2-d, 11 and 17 of H-2-q, 13 and 30 of H-2-q, 25 and 23 of H-2-k, and 28 and 31 of H-2-g. These results are in agreement with genetic mapping placing the determinants of antigens H-2.8, 11 and 25 in the K region , the determinant of antigen H-2.13 in the D region, and the determinants of antigens H-2.1 and 28 in either the K or the D region. In contrast to genetic mapping placing the determinant for antigen H-2.6 in the D region, we found that in the H-2-b haplotype the antigen is associated with K region antigen H-2.33 and H-2.32, and interpreted this result as evidence for two homologous H-2.5 sites controlled by opposite ends of the H-2 complex. Although the data do not prove that public antigens are carried by the same molecules as private ones, they demonstrate a close physical association in the membrane between the two groups of loci, K and D, coding for the first 33 classical H-2 antigens (with the exception of antigen H-2.7), and thus support the two-locus model. The data also support the duplication model of H-2 by demonstrating two homologous H-2.5 sites associated with K and D molecules.     

Genetic restrictions for the induction of suppressor T cells by hapten- modified lymphoid cells in tolerance to 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene contact sensitivity. Role of the H-2D region of the major histocompatibility complex

Genetic restrictions governing the induction and expression of suppressor T cells (Ts) in tolerance to 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrogenzene (DNFB) contract sensitivity were studied. Tolerance was induced by using 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP)-modified lymphoid cells (DNP-LC) as tolerogen. Two kinds of Ts were found-those produced by DNP-LC syngeneic to the donor of the Ts (syninduced Ts), and those produced by DNP-LC allogeneic to the donor of Ts (alloinduced Ts). Studies employing congenic resistant mouse strains indicated that recognition of DNP-modified-major histocompatibility region determinants on the tolerogenic DNP-LC was essential for the induction of both types of Ts. Non-H-2 genetic background was irrelevant to Ts induction. Mapping studies indicated that induction of both syninduced and alloinduced Ts was associated with recognition of DNP-modified-MHC region determinants which map to the right of the H-2G region (i.e., H-2D gene products). Tolerization of donor mice with DNP-LC which were H-2D region compatible, but not with H-2K or I region compatible DNP-LC, was both sufficient and required for the induction of hapten-specific syninduced Ts. Tolerization of donor mice with DNP-LC which were incompatible only at the H-2D region was sufficient for the induction of alloinduced Ts. These Ts were capable of suppressing recipient mice only if the recipients shared the H-2D region with the strain providing the DNP-LC tolerogen, and were not capable of suppressing recipients sharing all but the H-2D region with the tolerogen.     

Bifunctional major histocompatibility-linked genetic regulation of cell- mediated lympholysis to trinitrophenyl-modified autologous lymphocytes

Murine thymus-derived lymphocytes can be sensitized in vitro to trinitrophenyl (TNP)-modified autologous spleen cells (1, 2). Cytotoxic effector cells were generated which were specific for TNP-modified target cells expressing the same H-2K and H-2D serological regions as the modified stimulator cells (3, 7). Spleen cells from two C57BL/10 congenic strains of mice sharing common I-C, S, and D regions, but differing at K, I-A, and I-B regions, generated different levels of lytic responses to the shared modified H-2Dd products upon sensitization with auto logous TNP-modified cells. Lymphocytes from an F1 between responder and nonresponder strain generated a level of cytolysis toward the H-2Dd modified specificity which was of the same order of magnitude as that obtained with the high responder, irrespective of whether F 1 or either parental strain of modified stimulator cell was used. These results suggest that the modification of H-2Dd products resulted in formation of new antigenic determinants in both parental strains. However, the difference observed in responsiveness appeared to be due to a gene or genes mapping in the K, I-A, or I-B region which influenced the ability of the responding lymphocytes to react to these modified H-2Dd products. Responsiveness was expressed as a dominant trait in the F1.