Tumour susceptibility in mice in relation to H-2 haplotype

Abstract

In many higher animal species, a major histocompatibility complex (MHC; in man: HLA; in mice: H-2) has been established and extensively studied. MHC products are essential in the recognition and destruction of cells carrying non-self antigenic determinants. Associations between specific HLA haplotypes and susceptibility towards nasopharyngeal carcinoma, breast cancer, acute lymphocytic leukaemia and Hodgkin's disease have been reported. A summary is made of the evidence for the involvement of H-2 genes in the development of virally induced tumours (leukaemia, mammary tumours and Rous sarcoma virus-induced fibrosarcomas). The formation of mouse lung tumours, for which there is no indication of a viral or hormonal etiology, has also proved to be significantly influenced by the H-2 haplotype. Similar results were obtained for spontaneous and chemically induced lung tumours. On closer analysis, more specific parameters, such as type of lung tumour and size, were found to be controlled by several regions of the H-2 complex.