Two different primate species express an identical functional MHC class I allele.
The products of the highly polymorphic and variable major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I loci play a crucial role in host defenses against infectious disease. While similar alleles have been found in closely related species, sharing of a functional MHC class I allele between two species has never been reported. Here we show that an identical functional MHC class I molecule is present in two different primate species with an approximate divergence time of 0.7 million years. Lymphocytes from the red-crested tamarin (Saguinus geoffroyi) expressed an MHC class I allele (Sage-G*01) that was identical in coding sequence to an MHC class I allele (Saoe-G*08) found in the cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus). Furthermore, influenza virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) generated in the cotton-top tamarin killed lymphocytes expressing the influenza virus nucleoprotein (NP) from the red-crested tamarin. Since the influenza virus NP epitope is bound by Saoe-G*08 in the cotton-top tamarin, it is likely that this molecule is functional in both species. These data provide the first evidence that functional MHC class I molecules can be maintained entirely intact in two separate species.
Evans
D T
DT
University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center, and Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, 1220 Capitol Ct., Madison, WI 53715, USA.
Piekarczyk
M S
MS
Cadavid
L
L
Hinshaw
V S
VS
Watkins
D I
DI
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005075:Biological Evolution; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D009698:Nucleoproteins; D012452:Saguinus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000276:immunology
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D009698:Nucleoproteins; D014758:Viral Core Proteins