Sequence analysis of the mutant Dbm13, Dbm14, and Dbm24 genes indicate that they differ from the parental Db gene by 4, 1, and 8 nucleotides, respectively. The mutant sequences substituted into Dbm13 and Dbm24 are identical to those found in the Kb gene, at the homologous positions. Thus, similar to the Kb gene, the Db gene is able to undergo micro-recombination (gene conversion) events with other class I genes. Such data suggest that micro-recombination events could be an important mechanism for the diversification of all H-2 genes. The Db mutant products share a common theme: the alterations in all occur at amino acid residues whose side chains in the homologous class I HLA-A2 molecule project into the postulated peptide antigen-binding cleft, and hence, would be expected to alter the binding of foreign or self peptides. Due to such changes, the bm14 mouse has become a nonresponder in the CTL response to Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV), as the alteration of one amino acid residue at position 70 (a Gln to His) is sufficient to entirely abrogate the cell-mediated response to the virus. On the other hand, the bm13 mouse has shifted the major part of its M-MuLV restriction to Kb, a profound alteration in CTL responsiveness due to the alteration of three amino acids (Leu to Gln at 114, Phe to Tyr at 116, and Glu to Asp at 119) in a peptide stretch of beta-pleated sheet structure lining the bottom of the antigen-binding cleft. Thus, study of these mutants reveals that, in one step, micro-recombination at the genetic level has resulted at the protein level in profound changes in the immune response to viral infection. Such a mechanism operating at the population level can be a driving force during evolution for modulating the character of CTL immunity.

The cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response against the male-specific antigen H-Y in C57BL/6 (B6, H-2b) mice is regulated by the I-Ab and Db molecules. From previous studies, we concluded that the bm12 I-Ab mutant does not respond to H-Y, because of a deletion in its T-helper-cell repertoire. We now demonstrate that two Db mutants, bm13 and bm14, also fail to generate a CTL response to H-Y. The bm12 class-II mutant on one hand and the bm13 and bm14 class-I mutants on the other complemented each other for the H-Y-specific CTL response in (bm12 X bm13)F1 and (bm 12 X bm 14)F1 hybrids. This indicates that the need for tolerance of the mutant class II and class I molecules in these hybrids does not create deletions in the I-Ab-restricted T helper cell and Db-restricted CTL repertoire for H-Y. This study constitutes the first demonstration with H-2 mutants that a CTL response controlled by class I and class II MHC molecules is complemented in an F1 cross between a class I and a class II nonresponder. (B6 X bm 13)F1 and (B6 X bm 14)F1 hybrids only responded to H-Y when the antigen was presented on F1 or B6 antigen-presenting cells (apc) but not on Db mutant apc. B6 or Db mutant responders rendered neonatally tolerant of each other failed to respond to the H-Y antigen presented on the tolerogenic allogeneic cell. In the tolerized animals, a response was only seen with responder (B6) type T cells and responder type (B6) apc, indicating that both the T cell source and the MHC type of the apc have to be taken into account in this system. Thus, Ir genes may act at the level of both the T cell repertoire and antigen presentation.

The development of inbred strains of mutant mice has proven useful in ascribing specific gene functions to particular genetic loci within the regions and subregions of the H-2 complex. The B6.C-H-2bm12 (bm12) strain is of particular interest in that, compared to parental C57Bl/6Kh (B6) mice, it bears a presumptive single gene mutation altering the Ab beta chain encoded by the I-A subregion. Our data show that bm12 mice have gained the ability to respond to poly(Glu50Tyr50)(GT) and have lost the ability to make plaque-forming cell or delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to the closely related copolymer, poly(Glu60Ala30Tyr10)(GAT), although retaining the ability to mount a GAT-specific T cell proliferative response. This is in sharp contrast to the parental B6 strain, which is a GT nonresponder and a GAT responder. Thus, this study is the first to report the establishment of responder status as a consequence of mutation. Possible mechanisms accounting for the gain/loss of GT/GAT responsiveness in the context of a two-step helper T cell model are discussed.

Antigen-specific soluble helper molecules are produced during major histocompatibility complex-disparate allograft priming. Genetic mapping studies with appropriate recombinant and mutant lines of mice have defined the antigen specificities of the soluble helper molecules described here as being directed against the H-2Dd molecules. The production of antigen-specific helper molecules is a relatively early event after H-2Dd-region allograft priming. A later phase of factor production near the time of graft rejection also contains nonspecific helper factors and IL-2.

The B6.C-H2bm12 (bm 12) strain has a mutation in the I-A subregion of the murine H-2 complex and is characterized by a loss of serologically detected Ia antigens and a strong graft rejection and mixed lymphocyte response between parent and mutant. It was presumed that the mutation affected the Ia-1 gene and to determine the relationship of Ia antigens and Ir genes, the immune responses of mutant and parent were compared. The immune responses to poly(L-Tyr,LGlu)-poly(DLAla)--poly(LLys), poly(Phe,Glu)-poly(DLAla)--poly(LLys), and poly(His,Glu)-poly(DLAla)--poly(LLys) in parent and mutant were same, indicating the Ia-1 and the Ir genes for these antigens are not identical. By contrast, although C57BL/6 gave a good response, the mutant strain was unable to generate cytotoxic T lymphocytes to the male-specific H-Y antigen--a response under I-A subregion Ir gene control, which now must be considered to be the Ia-1 gene. In addition, complementary Ir genes in the H-2b haplotype for the H-Y immune response could be detected when the bm12 mutant was used.

The fine specificity of alloimmune cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) was investigated in CTL responses across the smallest known H-2 differences, those based on mutation at a single H-2 locus. CTL were generated in all possible mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) combinations among seven H-2Kb mutants and the mouse strain of origin, C57BL/6 (B6-H-2b). CTL were also generated in all F1 hybrid responder/homozygous stimulator-cell combinations among four Kb mutants and B6-H-2b. CTL activity was measured in cell-mediated lympholysis (CML) against target cells from all Kb mutants and B6-H-2b. Cross-reactivity against targets other than the MLC stimulator was extensive and led to the distinction of 64 CML target determinants. Two Kb mutants (B6-H-2bm6 and B6.C-H-2bm9) showed identical typing for all 64 CML determinants. CML reactions after MLC between these two haplotypes were mutually negative. The mutants B6-H-2bm3 and B6.C-H-2bm11 showed identical typing for 47 of the 64 determinants. Their close relationship is in agreement with the finding that H-2bm3 anti-H-2bm11 CTL were the only ones that exclusively lysed target cells of stimulator-cell genotype. On the basis of CML typing, the sequence of relatedness of the mutants with H-2b is as follows: bm6/bm9-bm10-bm3-bm1-bm11, bm6/bm9 being the closest to, and bm11 the most distant from H-2b. The extensive cross-reactivity of alloimmune CTL appears to reflect immunogenetic complexity rather than lack of specificity. Comparison with other reports supports the notion that the system of Kb CML determinants, recognized by alloimmune CTL, is at least partially overlapping with the H-2Kb specificity repertoire involved in the associative T cell recognition of virus-infected cells.

The B6.C-H-2bm12 mutant is described and evidence is presented for the mutational site occurring in the IA subregion. The mutant is of the gain and loss type as bm12 in equilibrium or formed from C57BL/6 grafts are rejected in 14-16 d. Mapping studies by the gene-complementation method using H-2 recombinant strains place the mutation in the K or IA regions of the H-2 complex and furthermore, the use of this test and the use of other H-2 mutants indicate that H-2Kb is not the site of the mutation, making the IA region the most likely site. Serological analysis with a battery of H-2b, Iab, and other Ia sera, both by cytotoxicity, rosetting, and also by absorption analysis, indicated no alteration in H-2 specificities, particularly in H-2.K33. By contrast, all of the Iab specificities coded for by the IA subregion (Ia.3, 8, 9, 15, and possibly 20) are extensively altered and are either absent or greatly reduced in amount indicating an extensive alteration in the Ia-bearing molecule. The bm12 mutant strongly stimulates the parental C57BL/6 strain in an mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), and the reciprocal also occurs, the degree of stimulation being similar to that obtained with K + IA differences originating in another H-2 haplotype and points to the mutation effecting the Lad-1 locus. The presence of an extensive histocompatibility change, a marked alteration in the serologically detected Ia specificities, and a strong MLR, all produced by the one mutation, provides strong evidence for the identity of the Ia-1, Lad-1, and H-2(IA) loci in the IA subregion. The bm12 mutant should be of value in determining the relationship of Ia specificities, Ir genes, and other phenomena effected by the I region.