Isolation of a human major histocompatibility complex class I gene encoding a nonubiquitous molecule expressed on activated lymphocytes.
The human major histocompatibility complex is a multigene family containing at least 20 class I genes. Included within this family are the loci encoding the highly polymorphic HLA-A, -B, and -C antigens present at the surface of most nucleated cells. The large number of genes detected with class I probes by Southern blot analysis and the existence of serological reagents defining nonubiquitous, non-HLA-A,B,C class I antigens suggest that products other than HLA-A,B,C antigens are encoded within the class I gene family. These products might be the human counterparts of the murine Qa and TL antigens. In order to identify non-HLA-A,B,C genes, we have developed a probe, JF11, located in noncoding regions flanking the HLA-A locus. This probe detects only a limited number of class I genes and does not detect HLA-A,B,C-associated restriction fragments on Southern blots. This probe was used to screen a human cosmid library. Some of the cosmids isolated with this probe were then transferred into mouse fibroblasts expressing human beta 2-microglobulin. One of the transfectants specifically reacts with one alloantiserum (HA2) that detects HLA class I molecules specific to HLA-A2-positive, phytohemagglutinin-activated T cells and not found on resting T or B cells. Data presented in this paper provide evidence for the isolation and expression of a class I gene encoding a nonubiquitous class I antigen that could be a human analogue of the murine Qa antigens.
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003360:Cosmids; D004247:DNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005796:Genes; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007739:L Cells / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D051379:Mice; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D006680:HLA Antigens; D004247:DNA