GENETIC-CONTROL OF IMMUNE-RESPONSE TO SPERM WHALE MYOGLOBIN IN MICE .2. LYMPHOCYTE-T PROLIFERATIVE RESPONSE TO THE SYNTHETIC ANTIGENIC SITES

Abstract

The genetic control of T [thymus-derived] lymphocyte proliferative response to the 5 synthetic antigenic sites of myoglobin, 2 synthetic nonantigenic control peptides and 1 nonsense peptide was determined in independent and recombinant strains of mice. In all the strains examined, the nonantigenic control peptides and the nonsense peptide did not invoke a response in myoglobin-primed mice. When mice were not primed with whole myoglobin, no response was obtained with any of the antigenic sites. Haplotypes H-2d, H-2f and H-2s were higher responders to sites 1 and 2, whereas haplotypes H-2d and H-2s were high responders to site 5. Response to site 3 may be controlled by a non-H-2-linked gene. Site 4 could stimulate H-2b and H-2k haplotypes that are non-responders to the whole myoglobin. Studies with the recombinant strains suggested that Ir genes to sites 1 and 2 map in the I-A subregion and I-C subregion and were designated Ir-Mb-1,2(A) and Ir-Mb-1,2(C). Ir genes to sites 4 and 5 mapped only in the I-A subregion and were designated Ir-Mb-4(A) and Ir-Mb-5(A). Individual antigenic sites sites in a molecule are apparently controlled by unique Ir genes.