IMMUNE POTENTIAL OF ANIMALS LACKING CLASS IA MOLECULES

IA类分子在将肽表位从细胞内寄生虫呈递至CD 8 T细胞中起主要作用。IB类分子不像IA类那样多晶型，并且它们的功能不太清楚。我们计划利用IA类（KbDb）基因缺失的H-2b小鼠。与先前描述的I类缺陷动物（β-2M-/-和Tap-1-/ -）不同，这些小鼠完全不存在IA类分子，但保留IB类表达。将检测其对3种细胞内病原体（单核细胞增生李斯特菌（LM）、牛痘病毒和水疱性口炎病毒）的应答能力。已知CD 8细胞在对这些病原体的抗性中起作用，并且在LM的情况下，已知可以在体外产生针对由2种IB类分子M3和Qa-1/B呈递的该病原体的CTL。IB类分子在这些感染中提供免疫的作用将通过评估各种T细胞亚群以及NK细胞在体内的作用来分析。我们还将在体外分析这些应答，并鉴定IB类分子呈递给抗原特异性CD 8细胞的表位。最后，由于Kb -/-Db-/-小鼠不能在IA类分子上产生它们的CD 8库，我们将确定这些动物是否具有针对自身H-2b IA类分子以及其他IA类同种异体抗原的库。

Class IA molecules play a major role in the presentation of peptide epitopes from intracellular parasites to CD8 T cells. Class IB molecules are not as polymorphic as class IA and their function is less well understood. We plan to utilize H-2b mice that have their class IA (KbDb) genes deleted. Unlike previously described class I deficient animals (beta-2M-/- and Tap-1-/ -) these mice have a complete absence of class IA molecules but retain class IB expression. They will be tested for their ability to respond to 3 intracellular pathogens, Listeria monocytogenes (LM), vaccinia virus, and vesicular stomatitis virus. CD8 cells are known to play a role in resistance to these pathogens and in the case of LM, it is known that CTL can be generated in vitro against this pathogen presented by 2 class IB molecules, M3 and Qa-1/b. The role that class IB molecular play in these infections in providing immunity will be analyzed by assessing the role of various T cell subsets as well as NK cells in vivo. We will also analyze these responses in vitro and identify the epitopes presented by class IB molecules to antigen specific CD8 cells. Finally, since Kb -/-Db-/-mice cannot generate their CD8 repertoire on class IA molecules, we will determine whether these animals have a repertoire directed against both self H-2b class IA molecules as well as other class IA alloantigens.