title: Multiparity induces priming to male-specific minor histocompatibility antigen, HY, in mice and humans.
abstract: One of the factors that increases the risk of graft-versus-host disease following allogeneic stem cell transplantation is the use of multiparous females as donors. Since minor histocompatibility (H) antigens are the main targets of graft-versus-host and graft-versus-leukemia responses, we tested the hypothesis that multiparity could prime minor H antigen-specific T cells. We examined the peripheral lymphoid populations of multiparous mice and humans for evidence of priming of CD8+ T-cytotoxic lymphocytes against peptide epitopes of the male-specific minor H antigen, HY. In contrast to naive females, multiparous females have measurable levels of circulating HY-specific tetramer-positive T lymphocytes, which can be readily expanded in vitro. These findings have implications for the in vitro generation of T-cell clones as reagents for immunotherapy for tumors following stem cell transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Transplantation Biology Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Jian-Guo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Hamlata
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dewchand
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Macchiarulo
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dazzi
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simpson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006182:H-Y Antigen / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D010298:Parity / Q000276:immunology*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014181:Transplantation Immunology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006182:H-Y Antigen; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens