LEW (RT1l) rats were immunized with peptides corresponding to the alpha helical region of the alpha 1 domain (peptide 1), the beta sheet of the alpha 2 domain (peptide 2), and the alpha helical region of the alpha 2 domain (peptide 3) of the RT1-Aav1 classical class I molecule of the DA (RT1av1) strain. The immunizations were without carriers, and the objective was to prime to indirect allorecognition without influencing direct recognition of the RT1-Aav1 molecule. The LEW rats mounted strong primary and secondary antibody responses to peptides 1 and 3, but only weak secondary responses to peptide 2. None of the antipeptide antibodies crossreacted with intact RT1-Aav1 class I molecules. The immunization also resulted in LEW antigen-presenting cell-dependent, CD4+ T cell proliferative responses, which were very strong against peptide 1 and weakest against peptide 2. LEW rats immunized with peptides 1 or 3, but most effectively with both peptides 1 and 3 together, showed accelerated rejection of DA skin allografts. This effect was not observed in LEW rats immunized with peptide 2. In response to the DA skin allograft, the peptide-immunized LEW rats showed markedly accelerated kinetics of antibody production to the intact RT1-Aav1 molecule. These data demonstrate that indirect allorecognition can play an important role in allograft rejection and have important implications for understanding allograft rejection and its regulation.

Initial studies with the monoclonal antibody F8-11-13 described in this paper showed that it reacted strongly with B lymphocytes, did not react at all with granulocytes, and reacted only weakly with a small subpopulation of thymocytes and peripheral T lymphocytes. This picture was entirely different from that seen with monoclonal antibodies to the leukocyte common (LC) antigen, where 100% of all the above-mentioned leukocyte populations were positive. Biochemical studies using detergent solubilized membranes labeled with 3H at the sialic acid residues showed that the molecule bearing the F8-11-13 determinant was a glycoprotein of 215,000 mol wt, and that the peak depleted by F8-11-13 monoclonal antibody affinity columns corresponded to the high molecular weight region of a broad peak previously shown to be completely depleted by monoclonal antibody (F10-89-4) affinity columns directed at the LC antigen. Proof that the F8-11-13 determinant was expressed on some LC molecules was established by cross-inhibition studies with affinity-column-purified and depleted material. This finding of a serologically identifiable conformational or other structural change selectively expressed on the LC molecule of a functionally discrete population of lymphocytes has interesting implications for the structure and function of the LC molecule, and might be relevant to functional consideration of other membrane molecules.

The tissue distribution of the canine and human homologues of Thy-1 were studied using quantitative absorption analyses of liver absorbed anti-brain xenosera assayed on thymus cells. Cross-reactivity studies with pure rat Thy-1 established that the assays were detecting the homologues of rat Thy-1. The results showed that the tissue distribution of Thy-1 varies remarkably between species. Canine Thy-1 was found in large amounts only on adult brain. It was present in much smaller amounts on thymus (8% compared with brain), and was also found on lymph node, spleen and bone marrow (3, 1 and 0.5%, respectively, compared with brain). Surprisingly, it was found on kidney in amounts equal to that on thymus. Studies with the fluorescence-activated cell sorter established that canine Thy-1 was present on all thymocytes and peripheral T lymphocytes. Neonatal thymus and kidney had adult levels of Thy-1, but only small amounts of Thy-1 were present on neonatal brain. In man, brain was again the only tissue to contain large amounts of Thy-1. Surprisingly, it was absent from human thymus, and present on human kidney in amounts roughly equivalent to that seen in the dog. It was absent from spleen, lymph node, bone marrow, liver, heart, erythrocytes, platelets, and serum. Cross-reactivity studies showed that dog and human Thy-1 showed extensive serological cross-reaction, and that the dog-rat and human-rat cross-reactive components were identical.