Regulation of Qa-1 expression and determinant modification by anH-2D-linked gene,Qdm

✍ Scribed by Carla J. Aldrich; John R. Rodgers; Robert R. Rich

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag
• Year: 1988
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 984 KB
• Volume: 28
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0093-7711
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00364232

✦ Synopsis

We examined the regulation of cell surface expression of the Qa-1 alloantigens using a panel of monoclonal anti-Qa-1 cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (mCTL) lines. In contrast to previous reports of tissue-specific expression, we found that Qa-1 was widely expressed, resembling the prototypical class I H-2K/D molecules. We further found that an H-2D-linked gene, which we termed Qdm for Qa-1 determinant modifier, controlled expression of certain CTL-defined Qa-1 antigenic determinants. H-2D ~ homozygous haplotypes expressed a recessive allele of the modifier, Qdm k, whereas all other H-2 haplotypes tested expressed a dominant allele, Qdm ÷. The Qdm ÷ allele regulated in trans Qa-1 epitope expression from a Qdm k chromosome, modifying expression of particular CTL-defined Qa-1 antigenic determinants rather than affecting levels of cell surface expression. Mechanisms of Qdm function may include either a novel protein modification system or an unprecedented case of antigen recognition restricted by a nonclassical major histocompatibility complex molecule.