The expression of MHC antigens by human teratocarcinoma derived cell lines

Abstract
Flow microfluorimetry was used to investigate quantitatively the expression of HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C antigens and .beta.2 microglobulin by cell lines derived from human teratocarcinomas. Although low levels of these cell surface molecules were expressed by all the lines examined, there was no evidence of discrete HLA-A, HLA-B, or HLA-C/.beta.2-microglobulin positive or negative subpopulations in any cultures. Using similar techniques no murine embryonal carcinoma cell line was found to express the homologous H-2 antigens. Human embryonal carcinoma cells may differ from their mouse counterparts by expressing low levels of major histocompatibility antigens.
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