title: A primate species with limited major histocompatibility complex class I polymorphism.
abstract: Extensive polymorphism at the major histo-compatibility complex (MHC) is thought to confer immune protection on populations. A New World primate, the cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus), has a high prevalence of ulcerative colitis and adenocarcinoma of the colon and dies after infection with several human viruses. Lymphocytes from all animals tested expressed on common MHC class I allelic product. Another MHC class I allelic product was expressed by 39 of 41 tested animals. Four other allelic products were also expressed on the lymphocytes of these animals at a frequency of greater than 50%. MHC class II gene products, however, were polymorphic. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis confirmed that there were a limited number of cotton-top tamarin MHC class I alleles, whereas the MHC class II gene loci were polymorphic. This sharing of MHC class I alleles is unprecedented in a higher primate species and may play a role in the susceptibility of this endangered species to pathogens.
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D002143:Callitrichinae / Q000235:genetics*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D012452:Saguinus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II