MHC class Ia molecules alone control NK-mediated bone marrow graft rejection.
Mice with functionally deleted genes encoding MHC class I heavy (H-2K(b), H-2D(b)) and light (beta2-microglobulin) chains were used in bone marrow cell transfer experiments to study the role of class Ia and Ib molecules in NK cell function. Absence of H-2K(b) and absence of H-2D(b) on bone marrow cells resulted in complete and in almost complete NK-mediated rejection, respectively. Absence of either H-2 class Ib (at least when expressed in H-2 class Ia-deficient mice) or cell surface class Ia free heavy chains did not result in bone marrow rejection. Thus, in C57BL/6 adult mice, the inactivation of NK cells required for bone marrow cell engraftment relies entirely upon-H-2 class Ia molecules. These results imply the existence of an inhibitory receptor which recognizes either directly or indirectly H-2D(b) molecules and further suggest that in C57BL/6 mice the NK cells which do not express a H-2K(b) specific inhibitory receptor necessarily express an H-2D(b)-specific one.
Grigoriadou
K
K
Unité d'Immunité Cellulaire Antivirale, Institut Pasteur, Département SIDA-Rétrovirus, Paris, France.
Ménard
C
C
Pérarnau
B
B
Lemonnier
F A
FA
D000818:Animals; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology*; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D064532:Histocompatibility Antigen H-2D; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology*; D006720:Homozygote; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D006183:H-2 Antigens; C032876:H-2Kb protein, mouse; D064532:Histocompatibility Antigen H-2D; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin