Functional expression of a heterologous major histocompatibility complex class I gene in transgenic mice.
The regulated expression of major histocompatibility complex class I antigens is essential for assuring proper cellular immune responses. To study H-2 class I gene regulation, we have transferred a foreign class I gene to inbred mice and have previously shown that the heterologous class I gene was expressed in a tissue-dependent manner. In this report, we demonstrate that these mice expressed the transgenic class I molecule on the cell surface without any alteration in the level of endogenous H-2 class I antigens. Skin grafts from transgenic mice were rapidly rejected by mice of the background strain, indicating that the transgenic antigen was expressed in an immunologically functional form. As with endogenous H-2 class I genes, the class I transgene was inducible by interferon treatment and suppressible by human adenovirus 12 transformation. Linkage analysis indicated that the transgene was not closely linked to endogenous class I loci, suggesting that trans-regulation of class I genes can occur for class I genes located outside the major histocompatibility complex.
Bieberich
C
C
Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218.
Yoshioka
T
T
Tanaka
K
K
Jay
G
G
Scangos
G
G
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005796:Genes; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013045:Species Specificity; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D006680:HLA Antigens; D012333:RNA, Messenger