“Weak” histocompatibility antigens generate functionally “strong” humoral immunity

Ly-m11: the H-3 region of mouse chromosome 2 controls a new surface alloantigen

Spleen cells from an SJL mouse immunized with B10.S spleen cells were fused with the nonsecretor myeloma line NS.1. One established hybrid cell line continuously secreted antibody that recognized a new antigenic specificity, tentatively called "Ly-m11." This newly found antigen is detectable on nearly 100 percent of spleen and lymph-node cells, 70 percent of bone-marrow cells, and 20 percent of thymus cells by direct cytotoxicity assays, and on the cells derived from kidney and liver. Strains that are Ly-m11 (+) include C57BL/6, C57BL/10J, B10.S, C57BR/cdJ, C57L/J, and C57BL/KsJ. Other mouse strains so far tested are Ly-m11 (-). The strain distribution pattern distinguished Ly-m11 from any known murine lymphocyte alloantigens, but it follows the H-3 alpha haplotype which is defined by skin transplantation. Linkage tests of nine congenic strains of H-3 and/or H-13/alpha loci and five recombinant inbred lines including CXB, BXH, AKXL, SWXL, and BXD revealed no recombinations between H-3 and Ly-m11 loci on chromosome 2. This newly discovered Ly-m11 alloantigen could itself constitute a minor histocompatibility antigen detectable by serological means.

Immunoglobulin haplotypes of two population groups in Iran

Genetic markers of IgG and IgA were investigated in two population groups from Iran. The Gm-Am haplotypes found were mainly those prevalent in Caucasians, with a low frequency of Asiatic haplotypes. Twenty samples had phenotypes that led to the assumption of rare haplotypes. The main ones were: Gm(z;n;b)a2m(1) and Gm(za;n;g)A2m(2). The first haplotype differs from the common haplotypes because G1m(z) is present instead of G1m(f), and the second because it has G2m(n) and A2m(2) in combination with G1m(za) and G3m(g).

Phylogeny of functional humoral transplantation immunity: comparative studies in amphibians and rodents

Remarkably comparable observations from parallel experiments in salamanders and mice utilizing three related model systems (implant-induced immunomanipulation; passive transfer; and putative B cell suppression) argue directly that functional humoral transplantation immunity is highly developed at the phylogenetic level of Amphibia and that it plays a major role in regulating graft survival in these species (Fig. 4). Although it is still conjectural whether such humoral immunity and weak H-antigens evolved concurrently, the argument that enhancing atibodies evolved exclusively in viviparous species to protect the fetus from potential rejection by the maternal immune system no longer seems tenable (1).