Major histocompatibility complex class II DR alleles DRB1*1501 and those encoding HLA-DR13 are preferentially associated with a diminution in maternally transmitted human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection in different ethnic groups: determination by an automated sequence-based typing method.

Transmission of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) from an infected women to her offspring during gestation and delivery was found to be influenced by the infant's major histocompatibility complex class II DRB1 alleles. Forty-six HIV-infected infants and 63 seroreverting infants, born with passively acquired anti-HIV antibodies but not becoming detectably infected, were typed by an automated nucleotide-sequence-based technique that uses low-resolution PCR to select either the simpler Taq or the more demanding T7 sequencing chemistry. One or more DR13 alleles, including DRB1*1301, 1302, and 1303, were found in 31.7% of seroreverting infants and 15.2% of those becoming HIV-infected [OR (odds ratio) = 2.6 (95% confidence interval 1.0-6.8); P = 0.048]. This association was influenced by ethnicity, being seen more strongly among the 80 Black and Hispanic children [OR = 4.3 (1.2-16.4); P = 0.023], with the most pronounced effect among Black infants where 7 of 24 seroreverters inherited these alleles with none among 12 HIV-infected infants (Haldane OR = 12.3; P = 0.037). The previously recognized association of DR13 alleles with some situations of long-term nonprogression of HIV suggests that similar mechanisms may regulate both the occurrence of infection and disease progression after infection. Upon examining for residual associations, only only the DR2 allele DRB1*1501 was associated with seroreversion in Caucasoid infants (OR = 24; P = 0.004). Among Caucasoids the DRB1*03011 allele was positively associated with the occurrence of HIV infection (P = 0.03).

Engineering an intracellular pathway for major histocompatibility complex class II presentation of antigens.

The presentation of antigenic peptides by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules to CD4+ T cells is critical to the function of the immune system. In this study, we have utilized the sorting signal of the lysosomal-associated membrane protein LAMP-1 to target a model antigen, human papillomavirus 16 E7 (HPV-16 E7), into the endosomal and lysosomal compartments. The LAMP-1 sorting signal reroutes the antigen into the MHC class II processing pathway, resulting in enhanced presentation to CD4+ cells in vitro. In vivo immunization experiments in mice demonstrated that vaccinia containing the chimeric E7/LAMP-1 gene generated greater E7-specific lymphoproliferative activity, antibody titers, and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activities than vaccinia containing the wild-type HPV-16 E7 gene. These results suggest that specific targeting of an antigen to the endosomal and lysosomal compartments enhances MHC class II presentation and vaccine potency.

Yeast global transcriptional regulators Sin4 and Rgr1 are components of mediator complex/RNA polymerase II holoenzyme.

Sin4 and Rgr1 proteins, previously shown by genetic studies to play both positive and negative roles in the transcriptional regulation of many genes, are identified here as components of mediator and RNA polymerase II holoenzyme complexes. Results with Sin4 deletion and Rgr1 truncation strains indicate the association of these proteins in a subcomplex comprising Sin4, Rgr1, Gal11, and a 50-kDa polypeptide. Taken together with the previous genetic evidence, our findings point to a role of the mediator in repression as well as in transcriptional activation.

Proteolysis of major histocompatibility complex class II-associated invariant chain is regulated by the alternatively spliced gene product, p41.

Invariant chain (Ii) is an intracellular type II transmembrane glycoprotein that is associated with major histocompatibility complex class II molecules during biosynthesis. Ii exists in two alternatively spliced forms, p31 and p41. Both p31 and p41 facilitate folding of class II molecules, promote egress from the endoplasmic reticulum, prevent premature peptide binding, and enhance localization to proteolytic endosomal compartments that are thought to be the sites for Ii degradation, antigen processing, and class II-peptide association. In spite of the dramatic and apparently equivalent effects that p31 and p41 have on class II biosynthesis, the ability of invariant chain to enhance antigen presentation to T cells is mostly restricted to p41. Here we show that degradation of Ii leads to the generation of a 12-kDa amino-terminal fragment that in p41-positive, but not in p31-positive, cells remains associated with class II molecules for an extended time. Interestingly, we find that coexpression of the two isoforms results in a change in the pattern of p31 degradation such that endosomal processing of p31 also leads to extended association of a similar 12-kDa fragment with class II molecules. These data raise the possibility that p41 may have the ability to impart its pattern of proteolytic processing on p31 molecules expressed in the same cells. This would enable a small number of p41 molecules to modify the post-translational transport and/or processing of an entire cohort of class II-Ii complexes in a manner that could account for the unique ability of p41 to enhance antigen presentation.

Direct observation of disordered regions in the major histocompatibility complex class II-associated invariant chain.

Invariant chain (Ii) is a trimeric membrane protein which binds and stabilizes major histocompatibility complex class II heterodimers in the endoplasmic reticulum and lysosomal compartments of antigen-presenting cells. In concert with an intracellular class II-like molecule, HLA-DM, Ii seems to facilitate loading of conventional class II molecules with peptides before transport of the class II-peptide complex to the cell surface for recognition by T cells. The interaction of Ii with class II molecules is thought to be mediated in large part through a region of 24 amino acids (the class II-associated Ii peptide, CLIP) which binds as a cleaved moiety in the antigenic peptide-binding groove of class II molecules in HLA-DM-deficient cell lines. Here we use nuclear magnetic resonance techniques to demonstrate that a soluble recombinant Ii ectodomain contains significant disordered regions which probably include CLIP.

Restricted and conserved T-cell repertoires involved in allorecognition of class II major histocompatibility complex.

The nature of the alloreactive T-cell response is not yet clearly understood. These strong cellular responses are thought to be the basis of allograft rejection and graft-vs.-host disease. The question of the extent of responding T-cell repertoires has so far been addressed by cellular cloning, often combined with molecular T-cell receptor (TCR) analysis. Here we present a broad repertoire analysis of primed responder cells from mixed lymphocyte cultures in which two different DR1/3 responders were stimulated with DR3/4 cells. Repertoire analysis was performed by TCR spectratyping, a method by which T cells are analyzed on the basis of the complementarity-determining region 3 length of different variable region (V) families. Strikingly, both responders showed very similar repertoires when the TCR V beta was used as a lineage marker. This was not seen when TCR V alpha was analyzed. A different pattern of TCR V beta was observed if the stimulating alloantigen was changed. This finding indicates that alloreactive T cells form a specific repertoire for each alloantigen. Since conservation appears to be linked to TCR V beta, the question of different roles of alpha and beta chains in allorecognition is raised.

A general model of invariant chain association with class II major histocompatibility complex proteins.

The binding of invariant chain to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins is an important step in processing of MHC class II proteins and in antigen presentation. The question of how invariant chain can bind to all MHC class II proteins is central to understanding these processes. We have employed molecular modeling to predict the structure of class II-associated invariant chain peptide (CLIP)-MHC protein complexes and to ask whether the predicted mode of association could be general across all MHC class II proteins. CLIP fits identically into the MHC class II alleles HLA-DR3, I-Ak, I-Au, and I-Ad, with a consistent pattern of hydrogen bonds, contacts, and hydrophobic burial and without bad contacts. Our model predicts the burial of CLIP residues Met-91 and Met-99 in the deep P1 and P9 anchor pockets and other detailed interactions, which we have compared with available data. The predicted pattern of I-A allele-specific effects on CLIP binding is very similar to that observed experimentally by alanine-scanning mutations of CLIP. Together, these results indicate that CLIP may bind in a single, general way across products of MHC class II alleles.

Expression of endogenous peptide-major histocompatibility complex class II complexes derived from invariant chain-antigen fusion proteins.

CD4+ T cells recognize major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-bound peptides that are primarily obtained from extracellular sources. Endogenously synthesized proteins that readily enter the MHC class I presentation pathway are generally excluded from the MHC class II presentation pathway. We show here that endogenously synthesized ovalbumin or hen egg lysozyme can be efficiently presented as peptide-MHC class II complexes when they are expressed as fusion proteins with the invariant chain (Ii). Similar to the wild-type Ii, the Ii-antigen fusion proteins were associated intracellularly with MHC molecules. Most efficient expression of endogenous peptide-MHC complex was obtained with fusion proteins that contained the endosomal targeting signal within the N-terminal cytoplasmic Ii residues but did not require the luminal residues of Ii that are known to bind MHC molecules. These results suggest that signals within the Ii can allow endogenously synthesized proteins to efficiently enter the MHC class II presentation pathway. They also suggest a strategy for identifying unknown antigens presented by MHC class II molecules.

Oligomerization of CD4 is required for stable binding to class II major histocompatibility complex proteins but not for interaction with human immunodeficiency virus gp120.

Previous studies have failed to detect an interaction between monomeric soluble CD4 (sCD4) and class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins, suggesting that oligomerization of CD4 on the cell surface may be required to form a stable class II MHC binding site. To test this possibility, we transfected the F43I CD4 mutant, which is incapable of binding to class II MHC or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gp120, into COS-7 cells together with wild-type CD4 (wtCD4). Expression of F43I results in a dominant negative effect: no class II MHC binding is observed even though wtCD4 expression is preserved. Apparently, F43I associates with wtCD4 oligomers and interferes with the formation of functional class II MHC binding structures. In contrast, F43I does not affect the binding of gp120 to wtCD4, implying that gp120 binds to a CD4 monomer. By production and characterization of chimeric CD4 molecules, we show that domains 3 and/or 4 appear to be involved in oligomerization. Several models of the CD4-class II MHC interaction are offered, including the possibility that one or two CD4 molecules initially interact with class II MHC dimers and further associate to create larger complexes important for facilitating T-cell receptor crosslinking.

Low major histocompatibility complex class II diversity in European and North American moose.

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes encode cell surface proteins whose function is to bind and present intracellularly processed peptides to T lymphocytes of the immune system. Extensive MHC diversity has been documented in many species and is maintained by some form of balancing selection. We report here that both European and North American populations of moose (Alces alces) exhibit very low levels of genetic diversity at an expressed MHC class II DRB locus. The observed polymorphism was restricted to six amino acid substitutions, all in the peptide binding site, and four of these were shared between continents. The data imply that the moose have lost MHC diversity in a population bottleneck, prior to the divergence of the Old and New World subspecies. Sequence analysis of mtDNA showed that the two subspecies diverged at least 100,000 years ago. Thus, viable moose populations with very restricted MHC diversity have been maintained for a long period of time. Both positive selection for polymorphism and intraexonic recombination have contributed to the generation of MHC diversity after the putative bottleneck.