H-2K and H-2D antigens are independently regulated in mouse embryo fibroblasts.
The concentration of MHC class I (H-2K and H-2D) antigens on stimulating cells and target cells may influence the induction of responses in cytotoxic T-cell precursors, and the efficiency of cytotoxicity mediated by activated T cells, respectively. Using FACS analysis, we found that exposure of BALB/c mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEF) under different culture conditions to the supernatant from concanavalin A(Con A)-stimulated splenocyte cultures (CS) could result either in H-2K antigens increasing significantly more than H-2D antigens or in H-2D antigens increasing significantly more than H-2K antigens. Furthermore, we observed that the concentrations of H-2K antigens on MEF that were not exposed to CS in vitro could vary independently of H-2D antigen concentration during a period of several days in vitro. Thus we propose that the cell surface concentration of H-2K and H-2D antigens may be independently regulated, and we discuss how such regulation may be biologically advantageous during protective T-cell responses.
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000276:immunology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D064532:Histocompatibility Antigen H-2D; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D006183:H-2 Antigens; C024755:H-2K(K) antigen; D064532:Histocompatibility Antigen H-2D; D008222:Lymphokines