title: Distinctive polymorphism of chicken B-FI (major histocompatibility complex class I) molecules.
abstract: The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in chickens influences disease resistance, but the mechanism is not understood. In Leghorn lines, the MHC contains 2 closely-linked class I loci, B-FI and B-FIV. Previously, we determined nucleotide sequences of well-expressed class I (B-F) genes from unique MHC haplotypes of broiler chicken lines. More recently, we identified 7 new B-F alpha1alpha2-coding sequences from less well-expressed loci by amplification of genomic DNA from unique broiler haplotypes. Phylogenetic analysis of chicken MHC class I alpha1alpha2-coding sequences resolved 2 clusters (Groups A and B), which appear to correspond to B-FIV and B-FI loci, respectively. Compared with B-FIV locus, B-FI alleles were less polymorphic overall, but nevertheless demonstrated evidence of diversifying selection. The most striking feature of B-FI alleles is a conserved, locus-specific motif in the alpha helix of the alpha1 domain, a region that is highly variable in B-FIV alleles. This distinctive pattern of allelic polymorphism resembles that of the HLA-C class I locus in the human MHC (HLA). The conservation of the alpha helix of the alpha1 domain relates to HLA-C interaction with members of the killer immunoglobulin-like receptors on natural killer (NK) cells that are specific for recognition of HLA-C molecules and function to regulate activation of NK cells. Whereas HLA-C molecules may be dominant ligands for NK cell regulation, HLA-A and -B molecules are more important in presenting antigen to cytotoxic T lymphocytes. We hypothesize that chicken B-FI molecules may be specialized to serve similar functions as HLA-C molecules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Auburn University, Auburn, Albama 36849-5519, USA. ewaldsj@vetmed.auburn.edu
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ewald
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Livant
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008380:Marek Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I