Functional definition of HLA-DR and -DQ epitopes specific for DR2-short, DwFJO haplotype

Abstract

T-lymphocyte clones specific for the influenza A/Texas virus were obtained by limiting dilution of activated T cells from an HLA A2/3,B7/39,Cw -/-,DR2-short/2 short,DQw1,DwFJO/FJO donor. Among the proliferating clones studied, and irrespective of their antigenic specificities, most of them were restricted by epitope(s) on HLA-DR molecules present only on DR2-short/DwFJO cells but not on DR2-negative or DR2-long positive (Dw2,Dw12,Dw-) cells. Two clones were restricted by epitopes borne by DQ products. Here again, these epitopes were present on DR2-short/DwFJO but not on DR2-long,DQw1 (Dw2,Dw12) cells, indicating that the DQw1 molecules of DR2-long and DR2-short haplotypes are different. Taken together, these results indicate that the DR2-short,DwFJO haplotype is characterized by both HLA-DR- and DQ-specific molecules. Finally, one clone was restricted by an epitope shared by DR products from DR2 short/DwFJO, DRw11, and DRw13 haplotypes. This latter functional determinant has never been described until now.