Mice lacking major histocompatibility complex class I and class II molecules.
Mice lacking major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens were generated by mating beta 2-microglobulin-deficient, and therefore class I-deficient, animals with MHC class II-deficient animals. When housed under sterile conditions, the resulting MHC-deficient mice appear healthy, survive for many months, and breed successfully. Phenotypically, MHC-deficient mice are depleted of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in peripheral lymphoid organs due to a lack of appropriate restricting elements. In contrast, the B-cell compartment of these animals appears intact, and MHC-deficient mice can mount specific antibody responses when challenged with a T-independent antigen. Spleen cells from MHC-deficient animals are poor stimulators and responders in a mixed lymphocyte reaction. Despite their relatively weak cellular immune responses in vitro, MHC-deficient mice reject allogeneic skin grafts with little delay, and grafts from MHC-deficient animals are rapidly rejected by normal allogeneic recipients. Taken together, these results emphasize the plasticity of the immune system and suggest that MHC-deficient mice may be useful for examining compensatory mechanisms in severely immunocompromised animals.
Grusby
M J
MJ
Department of Cancer Biology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115.
Auchincloss
H
H
Lee
R
R
Johnson
R S
RS
Spencer
J P
JP
Zijlstra
M
M
Jaenisch
R
R
Papaioannou
V E
VE
Glimcher
L H
LH
D000818:Animals; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000276:immunology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C / Q000276:immunology; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains / Q000276:immunology*; D010641:Phenotype; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000276:immunology
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007074:Immunoglobulin G