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B Mach

Publications and source records attributed to B Mach.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Application of HLA-DR oligotyping to 110 kidney transplant patients with doubtful serological typing.

In renal transplantation a good HLA-DR match is associated with a higher success rate of graft outcome. However, due to a number of technical problems, reliable serological DR typing cannot always be obtained, and the very large number of HLA-DR alleles now discovered renders such DR matching more difficult. In view of the medical importance of HLA class II polymorphism in transplantation immunology, we have developed a simple HLA-DR oligotyping procedure on PCR-amplified DNA, by hybridization with 14 synthetic oligonucleotide probes able to recognize all major HLA-DR specificities. In particular, the probes used in this study allow the unambiguous discrimination of the DRw11, w12, w13, w14-Dw9 specificities or of rare alleles such as DR-Br or DRw13-DwHAG, which are very often difficult or impossible to identify by serology. In order to explore the potential of this methodology, we have analyzed by oligotyping 110 kidney transplant patients with doubtful or unreliable serological assignment, or with DR blank alleles. Comparison between serology and oligotyping shows that in 66.3% of the patients we observed an excellent correlation. About half these patients are homozygotes, as ultimately verified by RFLP typing. In 26.4% of the patients however, at least one HLA-DR antigen was discrepant, and in 7.3% of the cases oligotyping resolved uninterpretable serology. Almost all of the discrepancies were due to errors in allele assignment within the DRw52 group, mostly in the case of DRw13 alleles. This study confirms the expected qualitative advantage of the oligotyping technique and its simplicity as compared with the RFLP DNA typing procedure. Large scale application of the oligotyping methodology will therefore be beneficial to optimize HLA-DR matching in organ transplantation, particularly in high responders with first kidney graft rejection.

Base Sequence

Absence of DRw15/3 and of DRw15/7 heterozygotes in Caucasian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Polymorphic MHC class II molecules determine immune responsiveness towards pathogens and also contribute to susceptibility or resistance to a number of different autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The HLA-DR and -DQ alleles of 52 patients with SLE were analyzed by serology and, for 42 patients, HLA-DRB1, -B3 and DQB1 allelic polymorphism was determined by oligotyping on PCR-amplified DNA. While we confirm the increase of DR3 (44.2% versus 16% in controls; p less than 0.001) reported by others, we observed a complete absence of DRw15(2)/DR3 and DRw15(2)/DR7 heterozygotes among Caucasian patients. Moreover HLA-DQB1 oligotyping revealed the absence of DQB1*0602/0201 heterozygotes in our panel of Caucasoid SLE patients. Since both DR3 and DR7 haplotypes share the same DQB1*0201-encoded DQ beta chain, and since DRw15 is known to be in linkage disequilibrium with DQA1*0102, it can be predicted that DQA1*0102/DQB1*0201 combinations are absent in Caucasian patients. We therefore propose that a DQA1*0201/DQB1*0201-encoded HLA-DQ trans-dimer formed in these heterozygotes might function as a suppressor-inducer molecule that confers resistance against SLE.

Blotting, Southern

Hyperexpression of interferon-gamma-induced MHC class II genes associated with reorganization of the cytoskeleton.

Class I and class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene products are key recognition units in the induction and regulation of the immune response. Expression of class I and class II may be constitutive or inducible by cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). A key step in the induction of MHC genes is recognition of IFN-gamma by its membrane receptor. The work described here examines the regulation of the occupied IFN-gamma receptor by the cytoskeleton. To do this the authors have used the fungal metabolites dihydrocytochalasin B (DHCB) and cytochalasin D (CD), substances that bind to actin filaments and thereby disrupt the cytoskeleton. The authors have studied the effect of DHCB and CD on IFN-gamma-induced MHC gene expression in 143 B cells, a human osteosarcoma-derived cell line. Herein the authors demonstrate that alterations in the cytoskeleton induced by DHCB and CD can lead to increases in IFN-gamma-induced MHC gene expression. Dihydrocytochalasin B added up to 3 hours after IFN-gamma results in a threefold to sixfold increase in levels of class II mRNA while producing minimal enhancement of class I gene expression. In contrast, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA expression was unaltered by IFN-gamma or by the cytochalasins. The increased amount of class II mRNA can be accounted for by a concomitant increase in transcription rate of this gene. Studies using 125I-IFN-gamma demonstrate that the occupied IFN-gamma receptor associates with a Triton X-100 insoluble fraction of 143 B cells and that DHCB and CD markedly inhibit this association. The results described here provide evidence that is consistent with the hypothesis that the activity of the occupied IFN-gamma receptor may be modulated by interactions with the cytoskeleton of the cell. This receptor may be one of a group of plasma membrane receptors that are sensitive to the action of cytochalasins after ligand binding.

B-Lymphocytes

A new HLA-DRB1 allele within the DRw52 supertypic specificity (DRw13-DwHAG): sequencing and direct identification by oligonucleotide typing.

Molecular analysis of HLA class II polymorphism represents a crucial parameter for HLA matching in transplantation immunology, for the study of HLA-disease association and for the understanding of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted antigen presentation. We report here the DNA sequence and the deduced amino acid sequence of the polymorphic first domain exon of the DRB1 and DRB3 alleles of the homozygous cell line HAG (DRw13-DwHAG-DQw7). The DRB1 sequence represents a new DRB allele, which clearly shows a close relationship to other DRB1 genes from the DRw52 group and is now officially named DRB1* 1303. The DRB1* 1303 allele is very similar to the two DRw13 alleles we have described earlier, with only five amino acid differences at positions 32, 37, 47, 57 and 71. Furthermore, its sequence in the third hypervariable region is unique among all known DRB1 and DRB3 alleles. The sequence of the DRB3 gene of HAG shows that it corresponds to the previously described DRB3* 0101 (DRw52a) allele. In addition we present analyses of a panel of healthy blood donors and leukemic patients by oligonucleotide typing showing that this new HLA-DR specificity can now be unequivocally identified in routine oligotyping with an allele-specific oligonucleotide probe.

Alleles

DR-restricted T-cell reactivities associated with the Dw19 specificity can be directed against the products of either locus DRB3 (DRw52c) or locus DRB1.

HLA-Dw 19 antigen presenting cells express two different DR beta chains encoded respectively by DRB1 and DRB3 genes. In the present study we determined which of these two DR beta chains is recognized by DR-restricted T-cell clones. First we selected influenza-specific, DR-restricted T-cell clones of which restriction is strictly associated with the Dw19 specificity. Then we characterized by oligonucleotide typing one antigen presenting cell (HC12M) which exhibits a new haplotype associating a DRB1 gene highly related or identical to that from Dw 18 haplotypes with a DRB3 gene highly related or identical to that from Dw19 haplotypes. Finally, by testing the reactivity of the selected T-cell clones against Dw18, Dw19, and HC12M antigen presenting cells, we show that these DR-restricted "Dw19-specific" effectors can recognize either the DRB1-encoded chain present only on Dw19 antigen presenting cell or the DRB3-encoded chain shared by Dw19 and HC12M antigen presenting cells. Interestingly, our results show that DRB1 chains from Dw19 and Dw18 which differ by a single amino acid substitution at position 86 may be distinguished by T cells, implicating that this residue plays a role in T-cell recognition of HLA-DR-antigen complex. The implication of our results with regard to the new nomenclature of HLA specificities defined by T-cell clones will be discussed.

Antigen-Presenting Cells

Complete analysis of HLA-DQB1 polymorphism and DR-DQ linkage disequilibrium by oligonucleotide typing.

HLA class II polymorphism is functionally important in the control of immune responses, in transplantation immunology, and in the suceptibility to autoimmune diseases. HLA-DQA1 and -DQB1 genes exhibit a larger degree of allelic polymorphism than usually recognized by routine serology. We have therefore performed an extensive analysis of DQB1 polymorphism by oligotyping. A set of 12 oligo probes was hybridized on polymerase chain reaction-amplified DNA, thus allowing the detection of 12 DQB1 alleles, as demonstrated in homozygous as well as in heterozygous individuals. This highly sensitive detection system is particularly relevant within the DQw1 specificity where the 7 allelic sequences can easily be identified. The DQ-DR linkage disequilibrium was analyzed by oligotyping of 80 Caucasoid heterozygous individuals (160 haplotypes), and very tight associations were observed between DRB1 and DQB1 alleles. Five DRB1 alleles, DR-BON, DR4/Dw4 or Dw14, DR7, DRw8.3, and DRw11, however, can be associated with different DQB1 alleles. Moreover the DRB1 and DQB1 oligotyping analysis performed on 20 randomly chosen DRw8 Caucasoid individuals showed a high prevalence of the DRB1*0801-DQB1*0402 haplotype. By combining the analysis of allelic variations at DRB1, DRB3, and DQB1 loci, we can detect 33 different DR-DQ combinations in our panel of Caucasoid individuals. We now apply DQB1 oligotyping on a routine basis for optimal matching of unrelated donors for bone marrow transplantation.

Alleles

A new approach for the analysis of HLA class II polymorphism: 'HLA oligotyping'.

Histocompatibility typing allows the matching of patients and donors in organ transplantation, and the accuracy of HLA matching influences to a great extent the clinical outcome. Recent breakthroughs in the molecular biology of HLA class II genes have revealed that the degree of HLA diversity and polymorphism is in fact much greater than was expected on the basis of the traditional serological HLA typing assays. In parallel, it has become possible to analyse this extensive polymorphism directly at the level of the HLA class II genes and of their DNA sequences. We have described a DNA typing procedure referred to as 'HLA oligotyping' which is based on the hybridisation of allele and loci specific oligonucleotide probes. This procedure has now become operational on a large scale and this review describes the principles and major applications of the technique. It consists in the hybridisation of DNA with informative sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes, following an amplification of DNA in vitro by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The use of this highly sensitive technique for HLA-DR, -DQ and -DP typing is discussed, focusing on the clinical applications in the field of organ transplantation, particularly for bone marrow transplantation with unrelated donors. It now allows the unambiguous identification of all HLA subtypes, including those that cannot be recognised otherwise, and it represents powerful complement to current methods of HLA typing. Finally this methodology is widely used in HLA-disease association studies, aiming at the characterisation of HLA class II epitopes involved in the susceptibility or resistance to autoimmune diseases.

Antigen-Presenting Cells

Direct evidence for a functional role of HLA-DRB1 and -DRB3 gene products in the recognition of Dermatophagoides spp. (house dust mite) by helper T lymphocytes.

The contribution of the HLA-DRB1, -B3, and -B5 gene products in the recognition of Dermatophagoides spp. (house dust mite) by helper T cells isolated from an atopic individual (HLA-DRw12, DR7; DRw52b) with perennial rhinitis was investigated. Using a panel of histocompatible and histoincompatible accessory cells, the restriction specificity obtained for a long term T cell suggested that a component of the dust mite reactive repertoire recognized antigen in association with DRB3 gene products. Oligonucleotide DNA typing of the presenting cell panel demonstrated a correlation between the DRw52b allele and T cell responsiveness. Murine fibroblasts expressing DRw52b, but not DRw52a or -c molecules, presented antigen to both the T cell line and cloned T cells (DE26) derived from the line, indicating that the supertypic specificity DRw52b was able to restrict recognition of dust mite antigens. Additional T cell clones (DE9 and DE41) also isolated from the line were restricted by the products of the B1 gene locus (DRw12B1) as determined by murine fibroblasts transfected with the appropriate HLA-DR genes. Clone DE9 was degenerate in its restriction specificity, also recognizing dust mite presented by accessory cells expressing the DR2 subtypes. Presentation by fibroblasts transfected with DRw12B1, DR2Dw2B5 genes and EBV-transformed B cell lines expressing DR2DW21B1 and -B5 indicated that the functional site restricting recognition may be associated with residues 70 and 71 of the DR beta chain helical wall of the antigen combining site. Furthermore, we have recently demonstrated that both T cell clones DE9 and DE26 induce allergen dependent IgE synthesis in vitro.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Allergens

MHC class II regulatory factor RFX has a novel DNA-binding domain and a functionally independent dimerization domain.

The regulation of MHC class II gene expression controls T-cell activation and, hence, the immune response. Among the nuclear factors observed to bind to conserved DNA sequences in human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II gene promoters, RFX is of special interest: Its binding is defective in congenital HLA class II deficiency, a disease of class II gene regulation. The cloning of an RFX cDNA has allowed us to show by transfection of a plasmid directing the synthesis of antisense RFX RNA that RFX is a class II gene regulatory factor. RFX is a novel 979-amino-acid DNA-binding protein that contains three structurally and functionally separate domains. The 91-amino-acid DNA-binding domain is distinct from other known DNA-binding motifs but may be distantly related to the helix-loop-helix motif. The most striking property of RFX is that it can bind stably to the class II X box as either a monomer or a homodimer and that the domain responsible for dimerization is distant from and functionally independent of the DNA-binding domain. This distinguishes RFX from other known dimeric DNA-binding proteins. It also implies that an RFX homodimer has two potential DNA-binding sites. We therefore speculate that RFX could form a DNA loop by cross-linking the two X-box sequences found far apart upstream of MHC class II genes.

Amino Acid Sequence

Two DNA-binding proteins discriminate between the promoters of different members of the major histocompatibility complex class II multigene family.

The regulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II gene expression is a key feature of the control of normal and abnormal immune responses. In humans, class II alpha - and beta-chain genes are organized in a multigene family with three distinct subregions, HLA-DR, -DQ, and -DP. The regulation of these genes is generally coordinated, and their promoters contain highly conserved motifs, in particular the X and Y boxes. We have identified five distinct proteins that bind to specific DNA sequences within the first 145 base pairs of the HLA-DR promoter, a segment known to be functionally essential for class II gene regulation. Among these, RF-X is of special interest, since mutants affected in the regulation of MHC class II gene expression have a specific defect in RF-X binding. Unexpectedly, RF-X displays a characteristic gradient of binding affinities for the X boxes of three alpha-chain genes (DRA greater than DPA much greater than DQA). The same observation was made with recombinant RF-X. We also describe a novel factor, NF-S, which bound to the spacer region between the X and Y boxes of class II promoters. NF-S exhibited a reverse gradient of affinity compared with RF-X (DQA greater than DPA much greater than DRA). As expected, RF-X bound well to the mouse IE alpha promoter, while NF-S bound well to IA alpha. The drastic differences in the binding of RF-X and NF-S to different MHC class II promoters contrasts with the coordinate regulation of HLA-DR, -DQ, and -DP genes.

Animals