Mouse epidermal Ia molecules have a bone marrow origin (original) (raw)

Nature volume 282, pages 321–323 (1979)Cite this article

Abstract

The major histocompatibility or H–2 complex of the mouse is divided into five regions (K, I, S, G and D)1. Genes in the I region regulate immune responses2. The I region has several subregions which are designated I–A, I–B, I–J, I–E and I–C. The I–A and I–E subregions also code for a set of serologically detected cell-surface alloantigens, designated Ia antigens3. The relationship between the genes regulating the immune response and those encoding the serologically detectable alloantigens is still unknown. A number of species including man, rats and guinea pigs contain genetic regions apparently equivalent to the murine I region. Ia molecules are integral cell-surface glycoproteins that consist of two subunits of approximate molecular weights 35,000 (α) and 28,000 (β). Unlike the classical transplantation antigens which are present on almost all cells, the Ia antigens are found primarily on cells of the immune system—lymphocytes and macrophages4–6. A notable exception has been the demonstration of Ia antigens in mice, or Ia-like antigens in other mammals, on epidermal cells6–13. There is controversy about the numbers of Ia-positive cells in the epidermis. Fluorescence studies in humans11,12, guinea pigs14 and mice15 indicate that only about 5% of epidermal cells are Ia positive. These cells were identified by morphological criteria as the macrophage-like Langerhans cells. However, cytotoxicity studies in mice using anti-Ia sera indicate that a majority of epidermal cells (up to 90%) are Ia positive6–8. The reason for this discrepancy is not known. Here we demonstrate that the epidermal Ia molecules are synthesised by bone marrow-derived cells, presumably Langerhans cells.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 51 print issues and online access

$199.00 per year

only $3.90 per issue

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Klein, J. Biology of the Mouse Histocompatibility-2 Complex, 389–489 (Springer, New York, 1975).
    Google Scholar
  2. Shreffler, D. C. & David, C. S. Adv. Immun. 20, 125–195 (1975).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  3. Murphy, D. B., Herzenberg, L. A., Okumura, K., Herzenberg, L. A. & McDevitt, H. O. J. exp. Med. 144, 699–712 (1976).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  4. Hauptfeld, V., Hauptfeld, M. & Klein, J. J. Immun. 113, 181–188 (1974).
    CAS PubMed Google Scholar
  5. Colombani, J., Colombani, M., Shreffler, D. C. & David, C. Tissue Antigens 7, 74–85 (1976).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  6. Hammerling, G. J., Mauve, G., Goldberg, E. & McDevitt, H. O. Immunogenetics 1, 428–437 (1975).
    Article Google Scholar
  7. Klein, J., Geib, R., Chiang, C. & Hauptfeld, V. J. exp. Med. 143, 1439–1452 (1976).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  8. Krco, C. J., Steinmuller, D. & David, C. S. Cell. Immun. 46, 239–246 (1979).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  9. Delovitch, T. & McDevitt, H. O. Immunogenetics 2, 39–52 (1975).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  10. Frelinger, J. G., Wettstein, P. J., Frelinger, J. A. & Hood, L. Immunogenetics 6, 125–135 (1978).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  11. Klareskog, L., Tjerlund, U.M., Forsum, U. & Peterson, P.A. Nature 268, 248–250 (1977).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  12. Rowden, G., Lewis, M. G. & Sullivan, A. K. Nature 268, 247–248 (1977).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  13. Winman, K. et al. Nature 276, 711–713 (1977).
    Article ADS Google Scholar
  14. Stingl, G., Katz, S. I., Shevach, E. M., Wolff-Schreiner, E. & Green, I. J. Immun. 120, 570–578 (1978).
    CAS PubMed Google Scholar
  15. Rowden, G., Phillips, T. M. & Delovitch, T. L. Immunogenetics 7, 465–478 (1978).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  16. Stingl, G., Katz, S. I., Clement, L., Green, I. & Shevach, E. M. J. Immun. 121, 2005–2013 (1978).
    CAS PubMed Google Scholar
  17. Prunieras, M. J. invest. Derm. 52, 1–17 (1969).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  18. Silderberg-Sinakin, I., Thorbecke, G. J., Baer, R. L., Rosenthal, S. A. & Berezonsky, V. Cell. Immun. 25, 137–151 (1976).
    Article Google Scholar
  19. Schwartz, R. A., Yano, A., Stimpfling, J. H. & Paul, W.E. J. exp. Med. 149, 40–57 (1979).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  20. Oi, V. T., Jones, P. P., Goding, J. W., Herzenberg, L. A. & Herzenberg, L. A. in Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology Vol. V, 81 (Springer, New York, 1978).
    Google Scholar
  21. Von Boehmer, H., Sprent, J. & Nabholz, M. J. exp. Med. 141, 322–334 (1975).
    Article Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, 91125
    John G. Frelinger & Leroy Hood
  2. Department of Microbiology, University of Southern California Medical School, Los Angeles, California, 90033
    Sharon Hill & Jeffrey A. Frelinger

Authors

  1. John G. Frelinger
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  2. Leroy Hood
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  3. Sharon Hill
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  4. Jeffrey A. Frelinger
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Frelinger, J., Hood, L., Hill, S. et al. Mouse epidermal Ia molecules have a bone marrow origin.Nature 282, 321–323 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/282321a0

Download citation