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The development of molecular techniques for HLA typing has allowed the identification of genes previously assigned as serologic blank alleles. Lack or poor cell surface expression has been found for molecules coded by HLA-A, -B, -DRB4, -DRB5, and -DPB1 genes. In this report we describe the first HLA-C gene encoding for a null cell surface molecule. HLA-Cw*0409 N shows a point deletion at position 1095 within exon 7. This mutation provokes a codon reading shift, generating a new translation stop codon 97 bp downstream to that described in alleles normally expressed. This new stop codon location implies the presence of 32 extra amino acid residues in the cytoplasmic domain. Transfection experiments suggest that elongation of the cytoplasmic domain in Cw*0409 N would be the cause of cell surface expression failure, although Cw*0409 N heavy chain is able to create stable complexes with beta2-microglobulin. HLA-C fragment length analysis in a small selected group of samples with B44-Cblk haplotypic associations allowed us to identify two additional subjects showing both a serologic silent Cw*04 allele and a point base deletion at the 3' end of the HLA-C gene. This finding indicates that the allele frequency of Cw*0409 N within serologic C blank alleles would be appreciable, although basically restricted to the (A23)-Cw*0409 N-B*4403-DR7-DQ2 haplotype.

A polyclonal T-cell receptor complex (TCR) expression defect (as detected with monoclonal antibody WT31) has been found in two children belonging to an otherwise healthy Spanish family. One of the sibs (V, who had been vaccinated with attenuated poliomyelitis virus) showed clinical signs of immunodeficiency with an autoimmune syndrome, but the other (older) sib (D, vaccinated with attenuated rubella, measles, mumps, and poliomyelitis viruses) has been symptomless throughout life. In contrast to both sibs' normal expression of other peripheral leucocyte markers, as measured by flow cytometry (including CD1, CD2, CD4, CD8, and CD16), only about 6% of CD2+ polyclonal T cells expressed surface antigen-specific T-cell receptor (Ti/WT31), and only about 23% weakly expressed surface CD3 determinants. On the remaining CD2+ T cells in each sib the expression of Ti and CD3 was undetectable; the defect in CD3 expression is very likely secondary to the defect in Ti expression. Natural killer (NK) activity was not increased in any of the sibs, ruling out a high content of NK cells among their CD2+ lymphocytes. Functional data indicate that CD3-mediated T-cell activation with anti-CD3 monoclonals and Ti-mediated responses to allogeneic and tetanus toxoid antigens were severely depressed, whereas activation via CD2 was normal in the T lymphocytes of both sibs. Genes encoding for Ti alpha, beta, and gamma chains did not show major alterations by southern blot analysis, and polyclonal beta chain genes rearrangements were detected in both children's T-cell blasts. Family clustering suggests a genetic pathogenesis, but linkage to HLA or other blood group markers has not been found. Sib V had a concomitant autoimmune disease and died after a severe autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, indicating a relationship between the TCR and generation of autoimmune clones. However, the resistance of both individuals to infection and to vaccination with attenuated viruses, and the fact that sib D has been symptomless to date questions the relative importance of the TCR in the immune response against infection, and suggests that alternative T-cell activation pathways and non-specific defence mechanisms (external surfaces--bound and/or cellular) may suffice under certain circumstances.

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