Antigenic determinants shared between HLA-A, -B, -C antigens and H-2 class I molecules modified by bovine beta-2 microglobulin

Murine MHC class Ib gene, H2-M2, encodes a conserved surface-expressed glycoprotein

We have determined the genomic sequence of H2-M2 in seven haplotypes from nine inbred strains of mice and in five wild-derived haplotypes. Except for the spretus haplotype sp1 with a premature stop codon, we found only limited polymorphism. Four of the five amino acid substitutions in the alpha-helices are at positions that would point out from the antigen-binding groove, indicating that the polymorphism might influence receptor recognition rather than antigen binding. The rat homologue, RT1.M2(lv1), has 89% identity to H2-M2 at the nucleotide level and 91% at the amino acid level, and it also encodes an intact MHC class I glycoprotein. Chimeric proteins with alpha(1)alpha(2) or alpha(3)-transmembrane domains encoded by H2-Q9 were detectable on the surface of transfectants with monoclonal antibodies against Qa2, and the full-length M2 protein, labeled by fusion with green fluorescent protein, was detectable with S19.8 monoclonal antibodies. The H2-M2 protein was thus expressed on the cell surface, even in TAP-deficient RMA-S cells at 37 degrees C, suggesting that it is TAP-independent. We conclude that H2-M2 is a conserved mouse class Ib gene that is translated to a surface-expressed MHC class I molecule with a function still to be elucidated.

MHC class I recognition by NK receptors in the Ly49 family is strongly influenced by the beta 2-microglobulin subunit

NK cell recognition of targets is strongly affected by MHC class I specific receptors. The recently published structure of the inhibitory receptor Ly49A in complex with H-2Dd revealed two distinct sites of interaction in the crystal. One of these involves the alpha1, alpha2, alpha3, and beta2-microglobulin (beta2m) domains of the MHC class I complex. The data from the structure, together with discrepancies in earlier studies using MHC class I tetramers, prompted us to study the role of the beta2m subunit in MHC class I-Ly49 interactions. Here we provide, to our knowledge, the first direct evidence that residues in the beta2m subunit affect binding of MHC class I molecules to Ly49 receptors. A change from murine beta2m to human beta2m in three different MHC class I molecules, H-2Db, H-2Kb, and H-2Dd, resulted in a loss of binding to the receptors Ly49A and Ly49C. Analysis of the amino acids involved in the binding of Ly49A to H-2Dd in the published crystal structure, and differing between the mouse and the human beta2m, suggests the cluster formed by residues Lys3, Thr4, Thr28, and Gln29, as a potentially important domain for the Ly49A-H-2Dd interaction. Another possibility is that the change of beta2m indirectly affects the conformation of distal parts of the MHC class I molecule, including the alpha1 and alpha2 domains of the heavy chain.

Functional comparison of bovine, murine, and human beta2-microglobulin: interactions with murine MHC I molecules

Fetal calf serum is a well known source of bovine beta2-microglobulin (beta2m) which can exchange with endogenous beta2m from, as well as promote peptide binding to, class I major histocompatibility (MHC I) molecules on cells cultured in vitro. Recombinant bovine beta2m was expressed and purified for direct functional comparison to human and murine beta2m for interactions with murine MHC I molecules H-2Kb, Db, Kd, Ld, and Dd. Bovine and human beta2m were equivalent in stabilizing MHC I heavy chains and facilitating peptide loading, suggesting similar affinities for murine MHC I heavy chains. The activity of murine beta2m was significantly weaker, consistent with previous work that demonstrated the lower affinity of murine human beta2m for murine heavy chains compared to human beta2m. Analysis of bovine beta2m in fetal calf serum revealed ten-fold higher concentrations than in adult bovine serum, levels shown to significantly affect MHC I stability and peptide loading. The ramifications for the study of MHC I molecules from cells in culture and the evolutionary implications of the higher affinity interactions of human and bovine beta2m are discussed.

Mapping of the monoclonal antibody W6/32: sensitivity to the amino terminus of beta2-microglobulin

The monoclonal antibody W6/32 is one of the most commonly used pan-HLA-ABC antibodies in studying human MHC I structure and function. We have discovered that the reactivity of W6/32 is absolutely sensitive to the amino terminus of human beta2-microglobulin (hbeta2m). Bacterially expressed recombinant forms of hbeta2m that have been extensively used in structural and biochemical studies of MHC I molecules often have an additional methionine at their amino terminus. Cell surface MHC I molecules reconstituted with allele-specific peptides and recombinant hbeta2m are reactive with various HLA-specific mAbs, but not W6/32. In contrast, cell surface HLA molecules reconstituted with peptide and native hbeta2m, which has no amino terminal methionine, are recognized by W6/32 as well as other HLA-specific mAbs. Thus, the specificity of W6/32 includes the amino terminus of hbeta2m.

Alteration within a discrete region of the H-2Ld alpha 1 helix upon association with human beta 2 microglobulin

The utilization of the beta 2-microglobulin (B2m) exchange assay allowed for the association of H-2Ld with human B2m. Upon association with H-2Ld, human B2m induces structural alterations in H-2Ld that appear dependent upon xenogeneic B2m amino acid sequence variability. In this regard, xenogeneic B2m exchange is used as a tool to induce structural alterations in class I as a means of analysing the structural-functional relationship of B2m/class I association. Incorporating H-2Ld site-directed mutants into the experimental approach provided strong evidence that B2m makes indirect contact with discrete class I specific amino acid positions located in the helical region of the alpha 1 domain.

Sequence divergence of B2m alleles of wild Mus musculus and Mus spretus implies positive selection

Mouse beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) is polymorphic. Sequences of five allelic wild mouse B2m genes have been determined from the large exons of genomic DNA using the polymerase chain reaction. Relative to the standard B2m(a) allele, the products of four alleles of Mus musculus origin (w2, w3, w4, and w5), differ by only one or two amino acids. w5 has a single nucleotide change, Asp85-->Val, and is identical to the c allele. w3 has two changes, Val(-13)-->Ile and Lys44-->Glu. w2 differs at Arg81-->Thr and w4 at His34-->Gln, and they share the Asp85-->Val change with B2mc and B2mw5. w5 and c cells are lysed by S19.8, a monoclonal antibody specific for beta 2mb (Ala85), in a complement-mediated cytotoxicity assay, whereas w4 cells are not. Thus, distant changes appear to introduce subtle conformational effects on beta 2m structure. Five independent isolates of Mus spretus (w1) differ the most from B2m(a), with 12 amino acid changes and only one silent substitution. Replacements predicted from the nucleotide sequence occur in loops of the molecule facing away from the class I heavy chain and not in regions where beta 2m associates with class I alpha 3 domains. Concordantly, the w1-5 allelic forms of beta 2m associate well with H-2 heavy chains. The many amino acid changes in the spretus sequence and the paucity of silent substitutions suggest that B2m has been subject to positive selection.

Localization of the conformational alteration of MHC molecules induced by the association of mouse class I heavy chain with a xenogeneic beta 2-microglobulin

Changes in the antigenicity of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules resulting from the association of bovine beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m) with mouse class I heavy chains were investigated. Mice (H-2b) were immunized with syngeneic Concanavalin A (Con A) blasts induced in the presence of fetal calf serum (FCS) in conditions allowing exchange between mouse and bovine beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m). Spleen cells from hyperimmunized mice were fused with myeloma cells and two monoclonal antibodies which required for their reactivity the presence of FCS have been further studied. One of them (CAB 297) recognized a determinant of bovine beta 2-m which is present on free molecules in solution as well as when they are associated with either mouse or bovine class I heavy chains. In contrast, the second monoclonal antibody (CBB 70) did not react with free bovine beta 2-m molecules, nor with beta 2-m associated with bovine class I heavy chains. It did react with cells of some H-2 haplotypes (b, f, p and r) but only when their class I heavy chains are associated with bovine or with human beta 2-m. Therefore, expression of the CBB 70 defined antigenic determinant requires both xenogeneic beta 2-m and class I heavy chain of a given H-2 molecule. In order to precisely localize the antigenic determinant defined by this monoclonal antibody and therefore the region altered by the association of class I heavy chain with xenogeneic beta 2-m, we made use of exon shuffled class I molecules. The results indicate that changes induced by the association of bovine beta 2-m with H-2 class I heavy chain affect the conformation of the alpha 2 domain. These studies illustrate that MHC class I molecules exhibit a considerable conformational flexibility which could influence their ability to bind and present various peptides to the T-cell receptor.

Quantification of soluble HLA class I gene products by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay

A simplified enzyme linked immunosorbent assay utilizing an HLA class I framework-specific monoclonal antibody and a polyclonal enzyme linked beta-2 microglobulin specific antiserum has been established for the quantitative measurement of soluble HLA class I molecules. A total of 219 unrelated healthy individuals and 137 members of 28 families typed for HLA were analyzed for their non-membrane bound, i.e. soluble HLA-A,B,C antigens (sHLA-A,B,C). As reported by others, we observed associations of higher or lower sHLA-A,B,C values to particular HLA antigens: High plasma values were observed in probands positive for HLA-A23, A24, A29, Aw33, Bw65, and Cw8 and low values in HLA-B27 and B37 positive individuals. However, as shown by family studies, levels of sHLA-A,B,C were apparently not controlled by the MHC haplotypes alone, since no significant difference between HLA identical siblings and two haplotype different individuals could be detected. Thus, additional non-MHC linked gene(s) may be involved in the release of class I gene products.

The association of H-2Ld with human beta-2 microglobulin induces localized conformational changes in the alpha-1 and -2 superdomain

We have analyzed changes in the antigenicity of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules resulting from the association of human beta-2 micro-globulin (B2m) with the mouse class I heavy chain. In particular, the H-2Ld molecule exhibited enhanced cross-reactivity for the 34-1-2 monoclonal antibody. In order to assess the nature of this structural alteration induced by human B2m, we utilized H-2 class I hybrid molecules in the mapping of the 34-1-2 determinant to the helical region of the alpha-1 domain. H-2Ld class I hybrid molecules were then used to establish the importance of the alpha-2 and -3 domains in the observed increase of 34-1-2 cross-reactivity following exchange with human B2m. The H-2Ld hybrids suggest that alterations in interdomain contact are responsible for enhanced 34-1-2 cross-reactivity on the H-2Ld molecule. It is likely that this alteration arises through changes in class I conformation at regions of the molecule distant from points of contact between B2m and the class I molecule. This suggests that perturbations induced by association of human B2m with H-2Ld can affect the conformation of the alpha-1 and -2 superdomain. That class I antigenic determinants are altered by the association of human B2m with mouse class I further suggests that the class I molecule is structurally flexible and may reflect the ability of the class I molecule to bind and present a vast array of disparate peptides to the T-cell receptor.

Allotyping for HLA class I using plasma as antigen source

Immunoadsorption of soluble HLA class I antigens onto immunobeads, one-dimensional iso-electric focusing of these proteins and subsequent immunoblotting allows a biochemical identification of HLA class I allotypes. The distinct protein bands can be clearly attributed to particular HLA antigens and are comparable to those observed after detergent solubilization of membrane-bound HLA antigens. Segregation analysis showed that the biochemically detected pattern of soluble class I gene products followed Mendelian inheritance. However, antigens such as HLA-A1, -A2, -B8, and -B51 were not always clearly detectable, a phenomenon attributable to either different plasma concentrations of these HLA antigens or variable affinity of the monoclonal antibody used to capture class I antigens. These results show that in principle allotyping of HLA class I using plasma as the antigen source is feasible, but with the limitation that some antigens may not be easily detected in some individuals.

Typing for HLA class I gene products using plasma as source

Soluble HLA class I proteins have been found in serum or plasma of healthy and diseased individuals. Here we present evidence that these molecules can be readily used for determination of the HLA type by biochemical methods. Immunoprecipitation of the soluble class I gene products using monomorphic monoclonal antibodies coated to immunobeads and one-dimensional isoelectric focusing followed by immunoblotting represents a feasible and reproducible technique for typing. Analysis of these gene products in families (n = 12, with a total of 62 individuals) as well as in the population (n = 82) showed that all serologically defined antigens tested to date were present in plasma. A reference chart established primarily for the membrane-bound antigens could also be used for the soluble ones.