title: Differential induction of major histocompatibility complex molecules on mouse intestine by bacterial colonization.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine what factors induce major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules on the mouse small intestinal epithelium by using immunohistochemical methods. In germ-free mice, although MHC class I molecules such as H-2K and thymus leukemia antigen (TLa) were expressed on the small intestinal epithelium, class II molecules were absent. The introduction of microorganisms into germ-free mice induced characteristic MHC molecules on the small intestinal epithelial cells. The I-A molecule was induced on the villus tip and crypt epithelial cells 7 days after conventionalization, and the I-E molecule was induced on the mid villus and crypt epithelial cells 14 days after conventionalization. The staining intensity of the H-2K molecules was increased 4 days after conventionalization. In contrast, TLa did not change during conventionalization of germ-free mice. These results suggest that the expression of MHC molecules, except for the TLa, is greatly dependent on the presence of intestinal microorganisms.
authors.affiliation: Yakult Central Institute for Microbiological Research, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Setoyama
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Umesaki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development*; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C
chemical_list: D006183:H-2 Antigens; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C028388:thymus-leukemia antigens