Nature 270, 520 - 522 (08 December 1977); doi:10.1038/270520a0

Murine pluripotential stem cells lack Ia antigen

R. S. BASCH^*, G. JANOSSY & M. F. GREAVES

ICRF Tumour Immunology Unit, Department of Zoology, University College London and Membrane Immunology Laboratory, Imperial Cancer Research Fund
^*Present address: Department of Pathology, New York University Medical Center, 550 First Avenue, New York, New York 10016.

THE Ia (I region associated) antigens of the mouse were first described as differentiation antigens of B lymphocytes^1,2. Subsequently, similar antigens, determined by the same or closely linked genes, have been found on macrophages³, on some T cells⁴ and on stable products released by T cells⁵. Immunoprecipitated Ia antigen is a dimeric molecule, consisting of two dissimilar polypeptides⁶. The alloantigenic polymorphism of the structure is attributed to variation in the larger (33,000 molecular weight) subunit. Evidence has accumulated suggesting that Ia antigens are involved in immunological recognition and/or cell interactions^8,9.

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