The human UTY gene encodes a novel HLA-B8-restricted H-Y antigen.
The mammalian Y chromosome encodes male-specific minor histocompatibility (H-Y) Ags that are recognized by female T cells in an MHC-restricted manner. Two human H-Y epitopes presented by HLA-A2 and HLA-B7, respectively, have been identified previously and both are derived from the SMCY gene. We previously isolated CD8+ CTL clones that recognized a male-specific minor histocompatibility Ag presented by HLA-B8. In contrast to the SMCY-encoded H-Y epitopes, the B8/H-Y Ag was not presented by fibroblasts from male donors, suggesting that it was encoded by a novel gene. We now report that the HLA-B8-restricted H-Y epitope is defined by the octameric peptide LPHNHTDL corresponding to aa residues 566-573 of the human UTY protein. Transcription of the UTY gene is detected in a wide range of human tissues, but presentation of the UTY-derived H-Y epitope to CTL by cultured human cells shows significant cell-type specificity. Identification of this CTL-defined H-Y epitope should facilitate analysis of its contribution to graft/host interactions following sex-mismatched organ and bone marrow transplantation.
Warren
E H
EH
Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA. ehwarren@u.washington.edu
Gavin
M A
MA
Simpson
E
E
Chandler
P
P
Page
D C
DC
Disteche
C
C
Stankey
K A
KA
Greenberg
P D
PD
Riddell
S R
SR
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D000939:Epitopes / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D006182:H-Y Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D015795:HLA-B8 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D014998:Y Chromosome / Q000276:immunology
D000939:Epitopes; D006182:H-Y Antigen; D015795:HLA-B8 Antigen; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D009842:Oligopeptides; D011506:Proteins; C484453:UTY protein, human