HLA-D-DR relationships: PLT studies of HLA-D specificities associated with DR1, DR2, and DR4

The primed lymphocyte test (PLT) detects gene products of the HLA-D-DR region which activate the secondary (memory) response of MLC stimulated T cells. In the present study attempts were made to determine whether different HLA-D alleles associated with the same DR, such as DR1, 2, and 4 can be discriminated by PLT typing. PLTs were generated by using, as responders and primary MLC stimulators, HLA-D different HTCs which shared all DR groups (major DR, supertypic MT and second locus MB) or only the MT or MB groups. As secondary stimulators, lymphocytes from an HLA-D selected panel of 72 individuals were used. PLTs raised in DR identical responder-primary stimulator combinations were able to discriminate between the different HLA-D antigens associated with the same DR. In contrast, when priming was performed in combinations differing for the major DR group, the restimulation response was highly associated with the DR specificity of the primary stimulator, regardless of whether or not this was compatible with the responding HTC for the MT or MB groups.

This data indicate that the specificity of primed lymphocytes largely depends on the combinations used for priming and that the memory response can be activated by both HLA-D and DR antigens. The dissociation of HLA-D from DR by PLT typing might provide a useful tool for further analysis of this HLA region.