Cross-reactions of Ia antigens between mouse and man

Abstract

Murine alloantisera with specificity for the I-region of the MHC were found to cross-react with human B lymphocytes. By using antisera selected for subregion specificity and including monoclonal antibodies, antisera directed to I-E/Ck products were shown to have the greatest cross-reactivity with human cells. In the reciprocal direction, human anti-DRw alloantisera were also found to contain antibodies that reacted with murine B lymphocytes and by using congenic strains this reaction was shown to be MHC restricted and was of the "Ia type." By studying appropriate intra-H-2 recombinant strains, the reactivity could be mapped to the I-E subregion (especially to I-Ek). In addition, antibodies t..