L cells expressing DQ molecules of the DR3 and DR4 haplotypes: reactivity patterns with mAbs

cDNAs coding for the HLA class II DR and DQα and β chains of the diabetogenic haplotypes DR3 and DR4 were introduced into a mammalian expression vector and transfected into L-cell mouse fibroblasts to produce cells expressing individual human class II molecules. Stable L transfectants were generated expressing each of the DR or DQ isotypes of the cis-encoded α and β chains of the DR3 or DR4 haplotypes, as well as the trans-encoded α and β chains of the DQ molecules of the two haplotypes. However, isotype mismatched combinations (DRα/DQβ or DQα/DRβ) did not result in any stable transfectants. The stable DQ L-cell transfectants obtained, along with homozygous B-cell lines expressing the DQ2 and DQ8 specificities, were tested against a large panel of twentyone anti-HLA class II monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Their unusual reactivity patterns are described including the failure of most “pan-DQ” mAbs to react with all DQ expressing L-cell transfectants. Interestingly, some mAbs react with certain αβ heterodimers expressed on B-LCL but fail to recognize the same heterodimers expressed on the transfectants. This is suggestive of minor structural modifications that class II molecules undergo depending on the cells they are expressed on.