Enzymic Removal and Re-expression of a Histocompatibility Antigen, HL-A 2, at the Surface of Human Peripheral Lymphocytes

Abstract

The removal by papain of a histocompatibility antigen, HL-A 2, from the surface of intact peripheral blood lymphocytes has been examined. Up to 80% of the antigenic determinant can be removed within 90 minutes. If the cells are reincubated in nutritive medium, re-expression of HL-A 2 is complete within 6 hours. Reexpression is reversibly inhibited by puromycin (50 ug/ml), but actinomycin D (6 ug/ml) only partially inhibited reexpression after 2 hours of prior incubation with the drug.

Removal and Regeneration of HL‐A Antigens on Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes

“…Also, no difference in the reappearance of HL-A antigens belonging to two loci was observed. The regeneration time for HL-A antigens on peripheral blood lymphocytes in the present study is shorter than those reported by others (Turner et al 1972, Chapel & Welsh 1972. Regeneration of HL-A2 on lymphocytes from one donor (Turner et al 1972) and of HL-A2, 5 and 12 on lymphocytes from another (Chapel & Welsh 1972) was complete within 6-7 hours following papain treatment.…”

“…The regeneration time for HL-A antigens on peripheral blood lymphocytes in the present study is shorter than those reported by others (Turner et al 1972, Chapel & Welsh 1972. Regeneration of HL-A2 on lymphocytes from one donor (Turner et al 1972) and of HL-A2, 5 and 12 on lymphocytes from another (Chapel & Welsh 1972) was complete within 6-7 hours following papain treatment. However, in both these studies the enzymic removal of antigens was carried out with higher doses of crystallized pure papain, and it is quite likely that more protein of the cell membrane was removed in these cases.…”

“…Schwartz & Nathenson (1971) reported the regeneration of H-2 antigens on mouse tumor cells within 6 hours of papain treatment. Enzymic removal and re-expression of human histocompatibility antigens (HL-A) on peripheral blood lymphocytes has recently been described using the sensitive Cr51 release assay system (Turner et al 1972, Chapel & Welsh 1972.…”

HL‐A Antigen Changes in Patients Treated with Chloramphenicol

“…Puromycin, a ribosomal protein synthesis inhibitor, inhibits the reappearance of the antigenic characteristics in this experimental system (Turner et al 1972), as well as in human lymphocyte tissue cultures (Ferrone et al 1972). 2. Chloramphenicol, long known to be a ribosomal protein synthesis inhibitor of bacteria, has been shown to be effective also in animal cells in low concentration (Ambrose & Coons 1963).…”

Enhancement of Renal Allografts in Rats and Man

“…If induction and maintenance of enhancement is caused by antigen combined with antibody, it is clearly of crucial importance to establish whether such complexes are continuously being released from the graft. There is evidence that mouse tumour cells (Schwartz & Nathenson 1971) and human leucocytes (Chapel & Welsh 1972, Turner et al 1972) which have had their surface transplantation antigens removed by papain treatment, are able to resynthesise these antigen sites within six hours. The mere existence of this metabolic capacity implies that antigen turnover is a normal cellular event.…”