SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Major Histocompatibility Complex”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

PubMed1994

Interferon gamma-treated keratinocytes activate T cells in the presence of superantigens: involvement of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules.

During inflammation in the skin keratinocytes can express major histocompatibility complex class II molecules but are unable to present nominal antigens to resting T cells. Certain bacteria including staphylococci produce a new class of antigens termed superantigens that are very potent T-cell activators. Using an in vitro model with cultured normal human keratinocytes and purified allogeneic T cells, we demonstrated that major histocompatibility complex class II+ keratinocytes can activate T cells in the presence of the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B. Major histocompatibility complex class II+ keratinocytes activated T cells at concentrations of staphylococcal enterotoxin B as low as 100 pg/ml. The activation required contact between keratinocytes and T cells, was inhibited with a monoclonal antibody to human leukocyte antigen DR, -DQ, and was not affected by fixation of the keratinocytes. These data show that major histocompatibility complex class II+ keratinocytes activate T cells in the presence of the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1991

Immunogenetics of the human major histocompatibility complex.

The biologic significance of the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC), also referred to as HLA, is well known through its influence on transplant immunity and its association with many diseases. This article attempts to summarize recent progress in the field of HLA polymorphisms. Topics discussed include the genetic basis of HLA, methods to determine HLA polymorphisms, and definitions of HLA Class I and II polymorphisms.

Genes, MHC Class I↗

PubMed1995

Evolution and developmental regulation of the major histocompatibility complex.

The ontogeny and evolution of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are blossoming fields that grant insight into the origins of the adaptive immune system and into the strategies adopted by particular groups of vertebrates for expression of MHC during development. This review surveys general topics concerning MHC evolution, with special emphasis on the significance of linkage of gene families within the MHC; a model is proposed in which the MHC class III region is the "primordial immune complex" with its members giving rise to classical MHC molecules. The developmental expression of MHC, both of the classical and non-classical genes, is described in detail with a concentration on differential expression by extraembryonic tissues in mammals and by tissues in "transition" during metamorphosis in amphibians.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

CD1-restricted CD4+ T cells in major histocompatibility complex class II-deficient mice.

Rather unexpectedly, major histocompatibility complex class II-deficient mice have a significant population of peripheral CD4+ T lymphocytes. We have investigated these cells at the population and clonal levels. CD4+ T lymphocytes from class II-deficient animals are thymically derived, appear early in ontogeny, exhibit the phenotype of resting memory cells, are potentially functional by several criteria, and have a diverse T cell receptor repertoire. They do not include substantially elevated numbers of NK1.1+ cells. Hybridomas derived after polyclonal stimulation of the CD4+ lymphocytes from class II-deficient animals include a subset with an unusual reactivity pattern, responding to splenocytes from many mouse strains including the strain of origin. Most members of this subset recognize the major histocompatibility complex class Ib molecule CD1; their heterogeneous reactivities and T cell receptor usage further suggest the involvement of peptides and/or highly variable posttranslational modifications.

Animals↗

PubMed1982

Mapping class I gene sequences in the major histocompatibility complex.

The class I glycoproteins of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are products of closely linked genes on the 17th chromosome of the mouse. Four highly homologous cell surface proteins, K, D, L, and Qa-2 (refs 1-4), belonging to this multigene family have been analysed. Several additional members, M, R, TL, and indicated by biochemical data and recent serological data suggest the family is larger. Recent reports using recombinant DNA technology suggest that the class I system is an extensive multigene family. In this report we describe results of experiments using restriction enzyme digestion of DNA from a group of standard, congeneic and MHC recombinant mouse strains followed by hybridization to H-2 cDNA probes. Particular bands of hybridization can be assigned to specific H-2 haplotypes and, therefore, to the MHC regions of the 17th chromosome. A number of the MHC polymorphic bands have been assigned to genetic map positions in the K and D-L regions of the H-2 complex. Additional class I gene sequences map outside the boundaries of the traditional H-2 complex (K, I, S, D), into the Qa-T1a region. At least one sequence is centromeric to the K locus. Further, amino terminal and carboxy terminal probes show different restriction patterns, suggesting that the exons corresponding to the different domains of the class I glycoproteins may have different evolutionary histories.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

The crystal structure of H-2D(b) complexed with a partial peptide epitope suggests a major histocompatibility complex class I assembly intermediate.

In the absence of bound peptide ligands, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules are unstable. In an attempt to determine the minimum requirement for peptide-dependent MHC class I stabilization, we have used short synthetic peptides derived from the Sendai virus nucleoprotein epitope (residues 324-332, 1FAPGNYPAL9) to promote its folding in vitro of H-2D(b). We found that H-2D(b) can be stabilized by the pentapeptide 5NYPAL9, which is equivalent to the C-terminal portion of the optimal nonapeptide and includes both the P5 and P9 anchor residues. We have crystallized the complex of the H-2D(b) molecule with the pentamer and determined the structure to show how a quasi-stable MHC class I molecule can be formed by occupancy of a single binding pocket in the peptide-binding groove.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Cloning the human major histocompatibility complex in YACs.

To clone the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC), 53 YACs, with an average size of 490 kb, were isolated and characterized from the CEPH YAC library. These YACs were organized in a single large contig covering more than 4000 kb. Furthermore, a complete physical map of the previously uncloned HLA class I region was established from partial and/or total digestions of 15 YACs spanning 2000 kb. This resulted in the establishment of the first YAC contig that spans the entire MHC region and constitutes an essential step in the isolation of all of the genes present in the region.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Overdispersed molecular clock at the major histocompatibility complex loci.

The extent of amino acid differences of major histocompatibility complex molecules within species is unusually high, consistent with the finding that some pairs of alleles have persisted for more than ten million years and the view that the polymorphism has been maintained by natural selection. The disparity between synonymous and non-synonymous substitutions in the antigen recognition site, however, suggests that some non-synonymous sites have undergone a number of substitutions whereas others have little or none. To describe statistically such an overdispersed underlying process, commonly used Poisson processes are inadequate. An alternative process leads to the surprising conclusion that each non-synonymous site has accumulated as many as 2.6 substitutions, on the average, in the two lineages leading to humans and mice. The standard deviation is also very large (6.6) and the dispersion index (the ratio of the variance to the mean) is at least 17. The substitution process thus inferred qualitatively agrees with the disposition (a boomerang pattern) of substitutions between HLA-A2 and Aw68 alleles, and quantitatively agrees well with that expected where the evolution of major histocompatibility complex molecules has long been driven mostly by balancing selection.

Alleles↗

PubMed1996

Amino acid preferences in the octapeptide subunit of the major histocompatibility complex class I heterotrimer H-2Ld.

Major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules are heterotrimers composed of polymorphic alpha-chains, monomorphic beta-chains, and peptides of eight or nine amino acids. The peptides are derived from various intracellularly occurring proteins and are very heterogeneous. They are essential for a stable conformation of the MHC-I protein at physiological temperature. This study presents results from stabilization experiments that were designed to determine the impact of the amino acids in every sequence position of octapeptides on the thermal stability of the mouse MHC-I molecule H2-Ld. OX7 octapeptide libraries with one defined and seven randomized positions were employed as they allow the effects of individual amino acids to be determined. The results confirm the importance of the motif amino acids proline and leucine for positions 2 and 8, respectively, of octapeptides. They are among the most efficient amino acids for these positions. However, with a few exceptions, all amino acids are permitted in all eight sequence positions. Hydrophobic amino acids are generally favored. Charged amino acids, especially aspartic acid and glutamic acid, are disfavored. Stabilization indices were defined as measures for the MHC stabilization power of the amino acids. These indices can serve to predict the efficiency of peptide binding to H-2Ld and can guide the design of T-cell epitopes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1983

RNA transcripts for I-J polypeptides are apparently not encoded between the I-A and I-E subregions of the murine major histocompatibility complex.

The I-J subregion of the mouse major histocompatibility complex has been reported to encode antigenic determinants expressed by suppressor T cells. Previously, cosmid clones were obtained from mouse sperm DNA that contain all of the sequences between the I-A and I-E subregions, where I-J has been mapped genetically. However, hybridization of these sequences to RNA prepared from several I-J-positive suppressor T-cell hybridomas did not reveal the presence of a transcript. In addition, no rearrangements in this DNA were detected in the suppressor T cells that we have analyzed. Our results indicate that the I-J polypeptides are not encoded between the I-A and I-E subregions of the major histocompatibility complex. We discuss several hypotheses concerning the possible location and expression of I-J genes.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

A strong association between null alleles at the C4A locus in the major histocompatibility complex and systemic sclerosis.

Allotyping of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-linked complement component C4 has revealed a strong association of the null allele, C4A*Q0, with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Sixty-four percent of patients with SSc carried the C4A*Q0 allele, compared with 17% of the control group. Twenty-five patients and their families were typed for HLA antigens (A, B, Cw, and DR) and the MHC-linked complement components C4 and factor B to identify haplotypes in the MHC linkage group and C4 null alleles. Strong allelic association of HLA-B8 and DR3 with C4A*Q0 probably explains the previously reported association of SSc with the extended haplotype carrying HLA-B8 and DR3. Ninety-two percent of the patients had either C4A*Q0 or DR5; 31% of the controls had either C4A*Q0 or DR5.

Alleles↗

PubMed1993

Cloned T cells internalize peptide from bound complexes of peptide and purified class II major histocompatibility complex antigen.

Antigen presentation to helper T cells involves the formation of a trimolecular complex consisting of a class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen combined with an antigenic peptide on the surface of an antigen-presenting cell and a T cell receptor (TCR) on the T cell. The fate of the MHC class II, peptide, or TCR moieties of the ternary complex following antigen presentation is unknown. Using radiolabeled complexes of affinity-purified murine MHC class II molecules and peptides corresponding to T cell epitopes of myelin basic protein (MBP), this report presents evidence that the binding of preformed relevant MHC class II-peptide complexes to cloned T cells in vitro results in internalization of the peptide moiety. Neither the restricting MHC class II molecule nor the TCR moiety of the trimolecular complex was internalized by T cells. The specificity of peptide internalization was demonstrated using complexes of syngeneic MHC class II with an irrelevant MBP peptide analog and by cloned T cells restricted for a different epitope of the same MBP antigen. Furthermore, the peptide translocation mediated by MHC class II and TCR was demonstrated by antibody-blocking experiments using anti-class and anti-TCR monoclonal antibodies. The peptide internalization by T cells was markedly reduced when binding was performed at 4 degrees C as compared with 37 degrees C. In addition, a significant inhibition of peptide translocation was observed in the presence of a metabolic inhibitor (sodium azide) but not in the presence of cytochalasin B. These results together demonstrate that the in vitro interaction of soluble MHC II-peptide complexes with cloned T cells is an active process associated with uptake of the antigenic peptide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

Comparative genome organization of the major histocompatibility complex: lessons from the Felidae.

The mammalian major histocompatibility complex (MHC) has taught both immunologists and evolutionary biologists a great deal about the patterns and processes that have led to immune defenses. Driven principally by human and mouse studies, comparative MHC projects among other mammalian species offer certain advantages in connecting MHC genome characters to natural situations. We have studied the MHC in the domestic cat and in several wild species of Felidae. Our observations affirm class I and class II homology with other mammalian orders, derivative gene duplications during the Felidae radiation, abundant persistent trans-species allele polymorphism, recombination-derived amino acid motifs, and inverted ratios of non-synonymous to silent substitutions in the MHC peptide-binding regions, consistent with overdominant selection in class I and II genes. MHC diversity as quantified in population studies is a powerful barometer of historic demographic reduction for several endangered species including cheetahs, Asiatic lions, Florida panthers and tigers. In two cases (Florida panther and cheetah), reduced MHC variation may be contributing to uniform population sensitivity to emerging infectious pathogens. The Felidae species, nearly all endangered and monitored for conservation concerns, have allowed a glimpse of species adaptation, mediated by MHC divergence, using comparative inferences drawn from human and mouse models.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

On the pattern of polymorphisms at major histocompatibility complex loci.

The pattern of polymorphisms at major histocompatibility complex loci was studied by computer simulations and by DNA sequence analysis. Two types of selection, overdominance plus short-term selection and maternal-fetal incompatibility, were simulated for a gene family with intra- and interlocus gene conversion. Both types of selection were found to be consistent with the observed patterns of polymorphisms. It was also found that the more interlocus conversion occurs, the higher the divergence becomes at both nonsynonymous and synonymous sites. The ratio of nonsynonymous-to-synonymous divergence among alleles decreases as the interlocus conversion rate increases. These results agree with the interpretation that the rate of interlocus conversion is lower in human genes than in genes of other nonprimate mammals. This is because, in the latter, synonymous divergence at the ARS (antigen recognition site) is often higher than that at the non-ARS, whereas in the former, this is not so. Also, the ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions at the ARS tends to be higher in human genes than in other mammalian genes. The main difference between overdominance plus short-term selection and maternal-fetal interaction is that the number of alleles and heterozygosity per locus are higher in the latter than in the former under the presumed selection intensities. However, the average divergence among alleles tends to be lower in the latter than in the former under similar conditions.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

A highly polymorphic microsatellite in the class II Eb gene allows tracing of major histocompatibility complex evolution in mouse.

A hallmark of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes is their extraordinarily high level of polymorphism. Polymorphic residues on MHC molecules determine which peptide ligands they bind and present to effector T lymphocytes. Although the genetic mechanisms responsible for MHC polymorphism have been delineated, the timetable and the pathway of their diversification remain unclear. To trace MHC evolution, we have characterized a highly polymorphic microsatellite containing tandem repeats (TRs) of two tetranucleotide units, TGGA and GGCA, located at the 3' end of the second intron in the class II Eb gene of mouse. On the basis of length as well as sequence variations, 11 TR alleles were defined in 55 inbred mouse strains, which included MHC recombinant haplotypes and haplotypes derived from different subspecies of mouse. In this extensive sampling, a striking concordance was observed between the serologically identified class II proteins and the associated TR alleles. Examination of several strains carrying the same MHC haplotypes as well as strains carrying recombinant MHC haplotypes indicates that TR alleles are extremely stable. These observations suggest that TR polymorphism predates the separation of various subspecies of mouse. On the basis of sequence divergence, a genealogical tree has been constructed to depict evolution of the different TR alleles. Finally, evidence is presented that suggests this microsatellite polymorphism is generated by slipped-strand mispairing during DNA replication.

Alleles↗

PubMed2004

Chagas' disease susceptibility/resistance: linkage disequilibrium analysis suggests epistasis between major histocompatibility complex and interleukin-10.

Association between the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and the susceptibility/resistance to acquire Chagas' disease has been largely demonstrated. To study the role of candidate genes in this susceptibility/resistance to Chagas, we designed a population-genetic-based case-control approach (chagasic n = 104 and controls n = 60) and tested the presence of genotype and linkage disequilibrium on microsatellite loci establishing specific landmarks for the MHC, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-2Rbeta chain, IL-4, IL-10, and natural resistance-associated mactophage protein 1 (NRAMP1). After demonstrating no genetic stratification among cases and controls (F(st) were not different from 0), we found significant allelic differences among chagasic patients and controls at microsatellite locus D6S291 (MHC) and at the microsatellite pointing out the IL-10. At the MHC, we found significant differences between patients and controls in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium-expected genotype proportions. Additionally, MHC II-locus-inferred haplotypes in chagasic patients exhibited strong significant departures from the expected proportions predicted by the second Mendelian law. The linkage disequilibrium pattern at MHC involves a region of approximately 10 cM. These results replicate previous analyses and suggest that presence of epistasis between MHC with humoral systems, such as IL-10, could be underlying the susceptibility/resistance to Chagas' disease.

Alleles↗

PubMed1990

Production of antiidiotypic antibodies in the rat: in vitro characterization of specificity and correlation with in vivo specific suppression of cardiac allograft immune reaction across major histocompatibility complex.

We studied the effect of antiantidonor major histocompatibility complex antibodies (antiidiotypic antibodies) in vivo on ACI cardiac allograft survival in Lewis rats and correlated the results with in vitro mixed lymphocyte culture. Lewis anti-ACI hyperimmune sera (Ab1) were obtained from animals that have rejected successive ACI skin grafts. Purified immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM fractions were obtained from the sera. These putative "idiotypic antibodies" (IgG fractions) were used to immunize groups of five naive Lewis rats. Purified Ig (0.5 mg) was mixed with 0.5 ml incomplete Freund's adjuvant and injected intraperitoneally -15, -7, and -3 days before and at the time of ACI cardiac allografting. The median allograft survival time was 11.2 +/- 0.7 days in animals treated with Ab1 compared with 6.4 +/- 0.5 days in untreated control rats (p less than 0.001). Use of IgM with adjuvant did not prolong graft survival. Purified IgG obtained from sera collected before transplantation was tested for antiidiotypic antibodies with the complement-mediated cytotoxicity assay. For this, serial dilutions of the hyperimmune serum were tested for cytotoxicity against ACI lymphocyte in the presence of Ig from sera collected after immunization with Ab1. Blocking was demonstrated by sera and IgG obtained from Lewis rats that received anti-ACI IgG (Ab1) with adjuvant. The blocking activity of purified IgG (Ab2) was strain specific because it did not block the reaction of Lewis hyperimmune sera against third-party Wistar-Furth rats. Thoracic duct lymphocytes from immunized recipients showed no blastogenic responses when tested in in mixed lymphocyte culture for reactivities against splenocytes from ACI rats. The finding that Lewis rats treated with Ig from sera containing anti-ACI antibodies exhibit impaired anti-ACI T- and B-cell reactivity and prolong allograft survival suggests that pretreatment of recipients with idiotypic antibodies leads to development of antiidiotypic antibodies that modulate alloreactivity suppressing allograft rejection.

Animals↗

PubMed1981

Role of the major histocompatibility complex in T cell activation of B cell subpopulations Lyb-5+ and Lyb-5- B cell subpopulations differ in their requirement for major histocompatibility complex-restricted T cell recognition.

This report has examined the requirements for T helper (T(H)) cell recognition of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) determinants expressed by B cells for the activation of unprimed Lyb-5(+) and Lyb-5(-) B cell subpopulations . The generation of primary T(H) cell-dependent plaque-forming cell responses in vitro microculture required the presence of Lyb-5(+) B cells because B cell populations that were deprived, either genetically or serologically, of the Lyb-5(+) subpopulation were not activated in these responses. Cell-mixing experiments in which A X B {arrow} A chimeric T(H) cells were mixed with purified populations of parental accessory cells and parental B cells demonstrated that the in vitro activation of Lyb-5(+) B cells did not require T(H) cell recognition of B cell MHC determinants, although it did require T(H) cell recognition of accessory cell MHC determinants . In contrast to the failure of Lyb-5(-) B cells to be activated in primary T(H) cell-dependent responses in vitro microculture, isolated populations of Lyb-5(-) B cells were triggered by T(H) cells in vivo in short-term adoptive transfer experiments . By the use of A X B {arrow} A chimeric T(H) cells and parental strain B adoptive hosts, it was possible in vivo to distinguish genetically restricted T(H) cell recognition of B cells from genetically restricted T(H) cell recognition of accessory cells. Similar to the results obtained in vitro, the activation in vivo of unfractionated (Lyb-5(+) plus Lyb-5(-)) B cell populations did not require T(H) cell recognition of B cell MHC determinants . In contrast, in the same in vivo responses activation of isolated populations of Lyb-5(-) B cells did require T(H) cell recognition of B cell MHC determinants. The most straightforward interpretation of these experiments is that T(H) cell recognition of B cell MHC determinants is required for the activation of Lyb-5(-) B cells but is not required for the activation of Lyb-5(+) B cells . To better understand why T(H) cell activation of one B cell subpopulation is genetically restricted, whereas activation of another subpopulation is not, the response of Lyb-5(+) and Lyb-5(-) B cells to the soluble activating factors present in concanavalin A-induced spleen cell supernates (Con A SN) was examined. It was observed that Lyb-5(-) B cells, as opposed to Lyb-5(+) B cells, were unable to respond in microculture to the nonspecific T(H) cell- activating factors present in Con A SN, even though they were able to nonspecifically respond under the same conditions to trinitrophenyllipopolysaccharide. It was observed that the ability of B cell subpopulations to respond to nonspecific soluble T cell factors paralleled their ability to be activated by T(H) cells in a genetically unrestricted manner. Thus, the present experiments demonstrate that activation by T(H) cells of Lyb-5(-) B cells is MHC restricted, whereas activation of Lyb-5(+) B cells is not. These experiments suggest that one possible explanation for such differences is that activation of Lyb-5(+) B cells does not require direct interaction with T(H) cells because they can be activated by soluble activation signals that T(H) cells secrete.

Antibody-Producing Cells↗