Clonal Analysis of the MLS (Minor Lymphocyte Simulators) System. A Reappraisal of Polymorphism and Allelism Among MLS(a), MLS(C), and MLS(D)

摘要

Only two sets of antigenic determinants are recognized by T lymphocytes at uniquely high precursor frequencies: those encoded by the MHC and those encoded by Mls. The structural as well as functional characteristics of MHC products have been extensively analyzed. in contrast, little information concerning the nature of Mls genes or their products is available. Although it was originally described that the Mls locus on chromosome 1 is composed of four alleles that encode polymorphic cell surface structure the issues of polymorphism and allelism in the Mls system have been controversial for some time. In the present study, T cell clones were generated by continuous stimulation of b10.BR (H-2 superscript k, Mls superscript b) T cells by CBA/J (H-2 superscript k, Mls superscript d) stimulators and they were used to analyze the relationship of putative Mls superscript a, Mls superscript c, and Mls superscript d determinants. All clones proliferated in response to determinants expressed by CBA/J simulators. In addition, each of these clones exhibited a second reactivity to either AKR/J H-2 superscript k, Mls superscript a or C3H/HeJ (H-2 superscript k, Mls superscript c) stimulators. No clone responded to both AKR/J and C3H/HeJ. These findings suggest a new concept of the polymorphism and genetics of the Mls system. Keywords: Antigens: Major Histocompatibility complex (MHC).