Transgenic mice that express different forms of the influenza virus hemagglutinin as a neo-self-antigen.
We have generated transgenic mouse lineages that express the influenza virus hemagglutinin in different physical forms. One kind expresses the full-length hemagglutinin molecule as a cell surface glycoprotein and can be recognized by hemagglutinin-specific B and T cells. The other expresses a truncated polypeptide corresponding to the N-terminal third of the hemagglutinin molecule. This polypeptide encodes known hemagglutinin-specific T-cell determinants; however, it contains no native B-cell epitopes, since these depend on the conformation of the fully folded protein. In each case, the hemagglutinin transgenic mice display ubiquitous expression of transgenic messenger RNA and induce T-cell tolerance to the transgene-encoded T-cell determinant site 1. Thus, the hemagglutinin is a neo-self-antigen in both kinds of hemagglutinin transgenic mice and should provide a useful system for understanding the factors and mechanisms that govern tolerance and autoimmunity to self-antigens.
Caton
A J
AJ
Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
Stark
S E
SE
Shih
F F
FF
Cerasoli
D M
DM
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D001324:Autoantigens; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral