A 320-kilobase artificial chromosome encoding the human HLA DR3-DQ2 MHC haplotype confers HLA restriction in transgenic mice.
MHC class II haplotypes control the specificity of Th immune responses and susceptibility to many autoimmune diseases. Understanding the role of HLA class II haplotypes in immunity is hampered by the lack of animal models expressing these genes as authentic cis-haplotypes. In this study we describe transgenic expression of the autoimmune prone HLA DR3-DQ2 haplotype from a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) containing an intact similar320-kb region from HLA DRA to DQB2. In YAC-transgenic mice HLA DR and DQ gene products were expressed on B cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells, but not on T cells indicating cell-specific regulation. Positive selection of the CD4 compartment by human class II molecules was 67% efficient in YAC-homozygous mice lacking endogenous class II molecules (Abeta(null/null)) and expressing only murine CD4. A broad range of TCR Vbeta families was used in the peripheral T cell repertoire, which was also purged of Vbeta5-, Vbeta11-, and Vbeta12-bearing T cells by endogenous mouse mammary tumor virus-encoded superantigens. Expression of the HLA DR3-DQ2 haplotype on the Abeta(null/null) background was associated with normal CD8-dependent clearance of virus from influenza-infected mice and development of CD4-dependent protection from otherwise lethal infection with Salmonella typhimurium. HLA DR- and DQ-restricted T cell responses were also elicited following immunization with known T cell determinants presented by these molecules. These findings demonstrate the potential for human MHC class II haplotypes to function efficiently in transgenic mice and should provide valuable tools for developing humanized models of MHC-associated autoimmune diseases.
Chen
Zhenjun
Z
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Dudek
Nadine
N
Wijburg
Odilia
O
Strugnell
Richard
R
Brown
Lorena
L
Deliyannis
Georgia
G
Jackson
David
D
Koentgen
Frank
F
Gordon
Tom
T
McCluskey
James
J
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001482:Base Composition; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D016466:CHO Cells; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D018244:Chromosomes, Artificial, Yeast / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015803:HLA-DR3 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics; D007739:L Cells; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; C053186:HLA-DQ2 antigen; D015803:HLA-DR3 Antigen