Differential recognition of the serologically defined HLA-A2 antigen by allogeneic cytotoxic T cells. II. Definition of three HLA-A2 subtypes by CTLs.
A comprehensive analysis of human alloimmune cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) specific for the HLA-A2 antigen identified 11% of HLA-A2 positive cells as outliers. In total, 11 unrelated serologically indistinguishable, but distinguishable by cell-mediated lympholysis (CML) HLA-A2 positive outlier cells were identified. The outlier cells could be subdivided in two subgroups according to reactivity patterns obtained with CTLs directed against the HLA-A2 antigen of outlier cells and their inhibitory capacity in specific competitive inhibition experiments. Thus, the serologically defined HLA-A2 specificity can be divided into at least three subtypes using CTLs specific for the HLA-A2 antigen. Moreover, CTLs specific for an HLA-A2 subtype could be induced when responder cells expressed a different HLA-A2 subtype antigen. On the basis of several family studies, we conclude that the subtype HLA-A2 antigens are inherited in a codominant way.
D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen; D006801:Humans; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
D000939:Epitopes; D006680:HLA Antigens; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen