title: Expression of MHC class II epitopes on human T lymphocyte clones.
abstract: Twenty-four CD4+ alloreactive helper T cell clones and eight CD8+ cytotoxic T cell clones from five different donors, all of which were dependent on alloantigen and IL 2 for continued growth, were analyzed by FACS for cell surface expression of HLA-DR, -DQ, and -DP epitopes using monoclonal antibodies against monomorphic and polymorphic determinants. Clones were tested early (less than 30 population doublings) and late (greater than 45 population doublings) in their life-spans and at various times (3-5 days) after antigenic restimulation. All clones expressed high levels of HLA-DR at all times, and lower but significant levels of both HLA-DQ and -DP. In contrast, B lymphoblastoid cell lines expressed equivalent amounts of HLA-DR and -DQ, but less HLA-DP. There was no evidence of differential regulation or expression of the three major MHC class II isotypes on different T cell subsets, and neither did antibodies specific for polymorphic epitopes fail to react on clones from donors carrying the appropriate alleles.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tübingen Medical Clinic, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pawelec
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Bühring
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002999:Clone Cells; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006681:HLA-D Antigens