Differential expression of the HLA class I multigene family by human embryonal carcinoma and choriocarcinoma cell lines.
We have studied the expression of both HLA class and the recently described HLA class I-like genes (HLA-E and HLA-6.0) in two human developmental tumor cell lines, that serologically could not be typed for HLA-A, -B, and -C. Evidence is presented that the teratocarcinoma Tera-2 stem cells express trace amounts of non-beta 2 microglobulin-associated classical HLA-A, -B, and -C Ag on their cell surface. The Jeg-3 human choriocarcinoma cells derived from fetal trophoblast express normal levels of surface beta 2 microglobulin associated with 45-kDa and 41-kDa H chains that display unique isoelectric points in IEF gels. The HLA-6.0 or HLA-E genes may encode the lower molecular mass component on Jeg-3 cells, because these genes express molecules of about 38 kDa and 41 kDa, respectively, when transfected to appropriate host cells. Transcripts homologous to the HLA-6.0 gene are found to be constitutively expressed in the Jeg-3 cells but not in Tera-2 cells, whereas HLA-E is not significantly transcribed in either cell line. Transcription of class I (HLA-A, -B, and -C) and class I-like (HLA-E and HLA-6.0) genes is up-regulated after treatment with IFN-gamma in Tera-2 cells, whereas the corresponding genes in Jeg-3 cells remain essentially unresponsive. The biologic role of trophoblast class I(-like) molecules in the context of the maternal acceptance of the fetal semiallograft is discussed.
Rinke de Wit
T F
TF
Department of Immunohaematology, Leiden University Hospital, The Netherlands.
Vloemans
S
S
van den Elsen
P J
PJ
Haworth
A
A
Stern
P L
PL
D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D008970:Molecular Weight; D005810:Multigene Family; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D013724:Teratoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism
D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D007371:Interferon-gamma