T lymphocyte responses to Mls locus antigens involve recognition of H-2 I region gene products

Abstract

THE major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in the ninth linkage group of the mouse encodes antigens that stimulate strong alloreactions¹. In vitro studies have focused on two such reactions, both mediated by T lymphocytes. Cytotoxic T cells can recognise products of the MHC H–2K and D regions (KD antigens), and can be distinguished by their Ly antigen phenotype from the non-cytotoxic T lymphocytes that give their strong proliferative responses in mixed leucocyte culture (ref. 2) (MLC). These latter cells respond primarily to H–2 I region gene products^1,2. The products of a second genetic locus in the mouse also stimulate strong MLC responses. This Mls locus³ behaves as a single autosomal dominant gene mapping in linkage group 13. It has been defined by studying MLC reactions between MHC identical strains of mice. Interestingly, it has not been possible to induce cytotoxic effector T cells against Mls locus antigens⁴. Recent interest in T cell responses to antigen has focused on the crucial role of MHC gene products in antigen recognition (reviewed in refs 5–8). These studies have shown that T cell responses to most conventional antigens involve recognition of both the foreign antigen and self MHC antigens. In parallel with allogeneic reactions, T cells cytotoxic to antigen-modified self cells see that antigen plus self KD molecules, while helper T cells, T cells mediating delayed type hypersensitivity and T cells proliferating in vitro to soluble antigens recognise the antigen in association with I region gene products. Thus, virtually all T cell responses involve recognition of MHC gene products, with the possible exception of responses to Mls locus antigens. Reactions to Mls locus antigens, however, are normally tested between MHC identical strains of mice, so responses to Mls locus antigens may also involve recognition of self MHC antigens, probably encoded in the I region⁷. Alternatively, the Mls locus might represent I region gene duplications translocated to another chromosome^3,9. The present experiments were designed to test these ideas. We report that T cell responses to Mls locus antigens involve recognition of the products of two gene clusters. One gene cluster is clearly self MHC genes, probably within the I region, while the second is almost certainly the genes of the Mls locus. Thus, virtually all T cell responses to non-MHC antigens involve specific recognition of self-MHC antigens in association with another antigenic determinant.