HLA Class II Antigens A Comprehensive Review of Structure and Function

This volume deals with the structure and function of molecules that have, during the last decade, turned out to have a central role in immune responses. Trans­ plantation antigens were discovered and characterized by Gorer about 50 years ago, and the biological basis for the unequalled complexity of their variability between individuals within a species, in spite of extreme conservation between species, was the subject of intense research and discussion for many years. During the days of belief in "immune surveillance" against spontaneously developing tumors, it was suggested that histoincompatibility between members of one species would prevent cancer from being a contagious disease and thus a threat to the species. Immunologists involved in human transplantation had to learn and care about the complexity, especially after 1967, when it was found that HLA antigens were the products of the human MHC. Rejection of HLA-identical sib kidney grafts was so rare, even in those days, that cases of rejection were described in scientific papers.

Molecular Biology.- Genes and Antigens of the HLA-D Region.- Physiologic Regulation of Class II Major Histocompatibility Complex Gene Expression.- Epitopes Are the Functional Units of HLA Class II Molecules and Form the Molecular Basis for Disease Susceptibility.- Biochemistry.- Structure of Human Class II Antigens Expressed by a Homozygous Lymphoblastoid B Cell Line.- The Complexity of HLA-DQ Molecules.- HLA-DP: Current Status.- Genes Encoding Mouse Ia.- Structural and Functional Studies of Mouse Class II Genes.- Cross-reaction Between Various Species.- Cross-reactions of Class II Histocompatibility Antigens of Various Species.- Differences Between Ethnic Groups.- Human Class II Antigen in Different Ethnic Groups.- Serological Definition.- Serology of HLA Class II Antigens: Methodological Aspects.- Alloantisera Against Human Class II Antigens: Definition and Methodology.- Monoclonal Antibodies Against HLA Class II Antigens.- Preparation, Characterization and Utilization of Monoclonal Antibodies to the Gene Products of the HLA-D Region, with Special Emphasis on those to Polymorphic Determinants.- Cellular Detection.- Cellular Detection of HLA Class II-Encoded Determinants: Subtype Polymorphims of HLA-D.- Cellular Detection of Human Class II MHC Antigens by Alloreactive T Cell Clones.- Cellular Detection of Human Class II Antigens: Delineation of a Novel HLA-DP-like Suppressor Restriction System DY, the Sequential Expression of Class II Antigens, and a Pronounced Functional Flexibility of Class II Alloproliferate T Cell Clones.- Regulation and Expression.- Modulation of Class II Antigens by Interferons.- Changing Antigenic Profiles of HLA Class II Antigens on Activated T Cells and Their Biological Effects.- Tissue Distribution of Class II Transplantation Antigens: Presence on Normal Cells.- Class II MHC Antigens on Human Monocytes, Endothelial Cells, and Dendritic Cells.- Class II Antigens: T Cells.- Class II MHC Antigens and Hematopoiesis.- Class II MHC Antigens and Erythropoiesis.- Expression of Class II Antigens on Nonhematopoietic Tumor Cells.- Class II HLA Antigens in Benign and Malignant Lesions of Melanocytic Origin.- Molecular Genetics.- Molecular Polymorphism of Human Immune-Response-Genes.- Molecular Genetics as a Tool in Clinical Transplantation.- Biological Implications.- The Role of Human Class II Molecules in Activation of T4 Lymphocytes.- Class II HLA Antigens in Autoimmune and Immune-Mediated Diseases.- The Role of HLA Class II Antigens in Clinical Transplantation.- Relevance of HLA-D/-DR Matching in a National Kidney Transplant Program.- The Pig as a Model to Assess the Effect of Class II MHC Antigen Matching on Renal Allograft Survival.