DAMAGE IN B2m GENES AND DNA METHYLATION OF H-2 GENES ARE INVOLVED IN LOSS OF EXPRESSION OF CLASS I MHC PRODUCTS ON THE MEMBRANE OF LR.4, A CELL LINE DERIVATIVE OF THE T-CELL LYMPHOMA L5178Y

We have isolated an H-2 deficient cell line (LR.4) from the T-cell lymphoma L5178Y which grew without restrictions in the peritoneal cavity of different inbred strains of mice. The use of polyclonal anti-H-2 antiserum and complement indicated that LR.4 cells did not express class I determinants on the cell membrane. Southern blots of genomic DNA of LR.4 cells showed that B2m genes were severely damaged and that class I H-2 genes were extensively methylated. Consequently, LR.4 cells failed to transcribe mRNAs for both B2m and class I H-2 genes. On the other hand, specific immunity to LR.4 was demonstrated in C57BL/6J mice since, in subsequent challenges with either LR.4 or EL4.4, LR.4 did not grow, whereas EL4.4 grew and killed the mice. In C57BL/6J mice, rejection of LR.4 was accompanied by the production of cytotoxic antibodies. The immune response induced in C57BL/6J mice was determined by non-H-2 antigenic determinants in LR.4 cells.     

Restoration of H-2b expression and processing of endogenous antigens in the MHC class I pathway by fusion of a lymphoma mutant to L cells of the H-2k haplotype

The RMA-S lymphoma mutant cannot process and present antigens to H-2-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes. It synthesizes major histocompatibility complex class I heavy (H-2KbDb) and light beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2mb) chains of normal size and charge, but only a fraction of these assemble and reach the cell surface. As a first step investigating the genetic defect of this line, we have fused it to a L cell fibroblast line (H-2KkDk/beta 2ma). The fusion restored H-2Kb, Db and beta 2mb expression as well as the ability to process and present internally derived (minor histocompatibility and influenza virus nucleoprotein) antigens in RMA-S. This shows that the mutation(s) responsible for the phenotype of RMA-S is (are) not located within the MHC class I heavy and light chain genes. Other cellular factors, derived from the L cell fusion partner, can control antigen processing and transport of MHC class I molecules. These findings are discussed in relation to the observation that assembly and transport of MHC class I molecules can be induced in the mutant by H-2b-restricted peptides. The recessive nature of the defect and its independence of MHC class I genes in the mutant has important implications for future transfection studies, of this and similar mutants, aiming at establishing cells containing non-assembled MHC class I molecules of different alleles and identifying the gene(s) controlling processing of endogenous antigens.     

Repression of class I H-2K, H-2D antigens on GR9 methylcholanthrene-induced tumour cell clones is related to the level of DNA methylation

The correlation between gene expression and DNA methylation is well established. In the present study we examined DNA methylation as a potential regulatory mechanism of class I histocompatibility antigen expression. We selected for study two cell clones from the same mouse tumour (GR9). One of them is H-2 class I-positive (A7) and the other negative (B9). Using five enzymes and three different probes, no rearrangement or deletion was detected in the MHC class I genes of the negative clone compared with the positive one. These results do not provide an explanation for the differences observed in the expression of class I antigens in A7 (Kd, Dd positive) and B9 (Kd, Dd negative). We then studied the DNA methylation status in both clones by Southern blot analysis. Clear differences between the Kd, Dd positive and negative clones were detected. Furthermore, both Kd and Dd were clearly expressed after culturing the H-2 class I negative clone with the demethylating agent 5-azacytidine. These results suggest that the methylation of certain MHC cytosines is a regulatory mechanism of H-2 class I gene expression.     

Responses of the L5178Y tk+/tk- mouse lymphoma cell forward mutation assay to coded chemicals. I: Results for nine compounds

Nine substances were tested for their mutagenic potential in the L5178Y tk+/tk- mouse lymphoma cell forward mutation assay, by means of procedures based upon those described by Clive and Spector (Mutat Res 44:269-278, 1975) and Clive et al (Mutat Res 59:61-108, 1979). Cultures were exposed to the chemicals for 4 hr, then cultured for 2 days before plating in soft agar with or without trifluorothymidine (TFT), 3 micrograms/ml. The coded chemicals were tested at least twice. Significant responses were obtained with calcium chromate, 3-(chloromethyl)pyridine, 1,2-epoxybutane, monochloroacetic acid, dicyclohexylthiourea, 2,4-diaminophenol hydrochloride, and pentachloroanisole. Apart from pentachloroanisole, rat liver S9 mix was not a requirement for the clearly mutagenic activity of any of these compounds. Compounds not identified as mutagens were 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole and sucrose.     

Most residues on the floor of the antigen binding site of the class I MHC molecule H-2Kd influence peptide presentation.

A panel of 15 single alanine substitutions on the floor of the peptide binding groove of the murine class I histocompatibility molecule H-2Kd has been analyzed. All but two mutant molecules were expressed on the cell surface, and were tested for peptide binding and presentation to specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Eleven out of 13 mutant molecules appeared to be functionally altered. Five of the substituted residues were involved in the presentation of all peptides tested. Three participated in the presentation of certain peptides but not others. Three other residues participated in epitope formation through indirect interactions. Only two mutations had no detectable effect.     

Acquisition of a stimulatory activity for Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cells by a Burkitt's lymphoma cell line without loss of HLA class I expression

Daudi Burkitt's lymphoma cells activate Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cells through TCR ligation by an unknown antigen. This activity is for a large part revealed by their lack of HLA class I antigen expression, allowing their escape from KIR downregulation. We characterize here a culture variant of the Burkitt's lymphoma line Raji, RJ-A3, which is able to promote as efficiently as Daudi cells the outgrowth of Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cells in cocultures in spite of unchanged HLA class Ia/Ib antigen expression. RJ-A3 is resistant to lysis by most Vgamma9/Vdelta2 lines and clones, even those lacking CD9-4/NKG2 and p58, p70 p140 KIR molecules. However, one Vgamma9/Vdelta2 line which can efficiently kill RJ-A3 do so in a TCR-dependent manner since killing is modulated by anti-TCR antibodies. The CDR3 sequences of the T cell clones amplified with Daudi and RJ-A3 reveal that some clones can be expanded with both lines while others are expanded preferentially with one or the other but not both. This indicates differences in the antigenic determinants of the two Burkitt's lines. The occurrence of this Raji variant line demonstrates that the stimulatory phenotype for Vgamma9/Vdelta2 cells can be acquired by some tumors independently of the loss of class I antigens and comforts the hypothesis of an anti-tumoral function for the Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cell population.     

Assessment of major histocompatibility complex class I interaction with Epstein-Barr virus and human immunodeficiency virus peptides by elevation of membrane H-2 and HLA in peptide loading-deficient cells.

Earlier findings indicate that peptides can affect the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules on the surface of cells with defective peptide loading mechanism. We have used peptide induced increase of class I antigen expression to assess peptide interaction with MHC class I molecules. A panel of 41 overlapping synthetic peptides derived from the human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) gag protein and 33 nonoverlapping peptides from Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) proteins EBNA-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, LMP, BZLF2, BILF2, BSLF2, BALF4 and BcLF1 was assessed for the ability to enhance the expression of HLA-A2.1, H-2Db, Kb and Dd on the murine RMA-S and human 721.174/T2 (.174/T2) lines by indirect immunofluorescence. Considering doubling of the fluorescence intensity in the peptide-treated samples as positivity, 6 of 39 HIV and 1 of 32 EBV peptides were found to bind to A2.1, 6 of 39 HIV gag and 7 of 16 EBV peptides to Db, 8 of 39 HIV gag and 5 of 16 EBV peptides to Kb and 2 of 39 HIV gag and 1 of 17 EBV peptides to Dd. The sensitivity of the method is comparable to the in vitro class I assembly assay with conformation-dependent monoclonal antibody and is more discriminating than the solid-phase assay. Due to its simplicity this method can also serve for testing large peptide panels for binding capacity to various class I molecules. Moreover, the method provides information about the relevance of in vitro tests for class I assembly in living cells.     

The MHC class I associated beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) light chain is expressed in a molar excess over HLA-ABC and CD1 on the membrane of leukaemic B cells but not leukaemic T cells: evidence for further beta 2m-associated molecules.

Beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) constitutes the common light chain of both the MHC-encoded HLA-ABC molecules and a group of structurally related glycoproteins recognized by antibodies of the first cluster of differentiation (CD1a, CD1b and CD1c). These CD1 antigens appear similar to murine T1 and Qa molecules in terms of structure and tissue distribution, although the question of inter-species homology is controversial. A further group of alloantigens expressed predominantly on T cells has been reported however, with immunogenetic characteristics more closely analogous to the murine T1/Qa system than the CD1 antigens, although their precise identity remains ill-defined. Having previously shown that malignant B cells may express membrane CD1c, we examined leukaemic B-cells corresponding to early lymphoblastic differentiation (null- and common acute lymphoblastic leukaemia) through to the terminal plasma cell stage for the expression of other non-HLA class I beta 2m-associated molecules. It was found that leukaemic B-cells at intermediate/late stages of differentiation, represented by non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL) and 'hairy-cell' leukaemia (HCL), had significantly higher beta 2m:HLA-ABC ratios than did the cells from other types of B-cell malignancy. Although leukaemic B cells with a demonstrable non HLA-ABC-associated beta 2m component expressed detectable levels of CD1c, and insignificant levels of CD1a and CD1b, the antigen density was insufficient to account for the excess beta 2m. In vitro stimulation of leukaemic B cells by phorbol ester substantially increased the expression of HLA-ABC and CD1c, but also accentuated further the difference between the expression of these molecules and that of beta 2m. There was no detectable beta 2m other than that associated with HLA-ABC and CD1 on the surface of malignant T cells by contrast. Our findings strongly support the existence, at certain stages of leukaemic B-cell differentiation, of an additional beta 2m component(s) other than that associated with HLA-ABC and CD1.