title: Different role of human HLA-DR and -DQ molecules in xenogeneic transplantation using transgenic mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of T lymphocytes in graft rejection in xenotransplantation is still unclear. The ability of the human HLA class II molecules DR and DQ to function as xenoantigens was investigated in a murine model of skin grafting, using HLA-DR1 and -DQ6-transgenic mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Skin from HLA-DR1- or -DQ6-transgenic mice was transplanted in control littermates. Spleen cells from donors or recipients were tested in mixed lymphocyte reaction and cytotoxic assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Skin from HLA-DR1-transgenic mice was rejected and spleen cells from rejecting mice were able to proliferate to donor cells, although no rejection was observed when the skin of HLA-DQ6-transgenic mice was engrafted in control littermates. No cytotoxicity was observed in any models.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken all together these results clearly suggest a hierarchy in the xenogeneic potency of human HLA class II molecules, with the HLA-DR1 molecule functioning as a potent xenoantigen when compared with the HLA-DQ6 molecule.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Patologia Generale, University of Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sireci
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dieli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Sano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salerno
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000502:physiology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens