Functional consequences of overexpressed Ia antigens in AK alpha/AK beta transgenic mice.
We report the creation and characterization of several transgenic mouse lines that carry genes coding for the Ak alpha or Ak beta MHC class II (or Ia) molecules. In all these lines, the transgenes are expressed at the RNA and protein level with correct tissue and cell type specificity. Crosses between certain of them yield progeny displaying very high surface levels of class II protein--roughly five times the normal amount--allowing us to evaluate the consequences of quantitative variation in Ia molecule density on the organization and function of the immune system. The effects appear rather limited: we detect subtle changes in thymic lymphocyte subpopulations, as well as an enhanced Ag presentation capacity in vitro. Yet, in vivo responses are largely unaffected, and Ia overexpression to such levels does not provoke lymphoproliferation, immunodeficiency, or autoimmunity.
Fehling
H J
HJ
Laboratoire de Génétique Moléculaire des Eucaryotes du CNRS-Unité 184 de Biologie Moléculaire et de Génie, Génétique de l-INSERM, Faculté de Médecine 11, Strasbourg, France.
van Ewijk
W
W
Pasquali
J L
JL
Waltzinger
C
C
Le Meur
M
M
Gerlinger
P
P
Benoist
C
C
Mathis
D
D
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic / Q000276:immunology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology
D001323:Autoantibodies; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D012333:RNA, Messenger