The immunogenomics of minor histocompatibility antigens.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2002
Keywords
Amino-Acid-Sequence, Animals, Genomics, Graft-Rejection, H-Y-Antigen, Humans, Major-Histocompatibility-Complex, Male, Mice, Minor-Histocompatibility-Loci, Models-Immunological, Molecular-Sequence-Data, Transplantation-Homologous, Variation-(Genetics)
First Page
86
Last Page
94
JAX Source
Immunol Rev 2002 Dec; 190:86-94.
Abstract
Minor histocompatibility (H) antigens are a diverse assemblage of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-bound peptides with the unifying property of acting as alloantigens that induce allogeneic tissue rejection. They are a consequence of any form of accumulated genetic variation that translates to differential MHC-presented peptide epitopes, the most common form of which is simple sequence polymorphisms. The universe of potential minor H antigens is large when transplantation is performed between genetically unrelated, MHC-matched individuals, especially considering the remarkable discriminative sensitivity of T cells. However, the phenomenon of immunodominance greatly simplifies immune responses that ensue. One mouse minor H antigen, H60, stands out in that the preponderance of the CD8 T cell response elicited in a complex alloantigenic setting is directed against this single minor H antigen epitope. Its immunodominance is because mice lacking H60 develop an unusually robust T cell repertoire dedicated to this single minor H antigen. The now well-characterized mouse minor H antigen system should provide a vehicle to assess the degree to which immunodominant alloantigens contribute to transplant rejection.
Recommended Citation
Roopenian D,
Choi EY,
Brown A.
The immunogenomics of minor histocompatibility antigens. Immunol Rev 2002 Dec; 190:86-94.