Human cytolytic T lymphocyte recognition of miniature swine xenoantigens

Sequence of the swine major histocompatibility complex region containing all non-classical class I genes

“…Thus, the SLA class II molecules, which are constitutively expressed on various cell types including the endothelial cells of vascularized organs, directly trigger the activation of human CD4+ T‐helper cells (4, 5). Similarly, the ubiquitous classical SLA class I molecules were directly recognized by subpopulations of both human CD8+ cytolytic T cells (6, 7) and natural killer cells (NK) (8, 9), leading to the lysis of the target cells. Accordingly, SLA molecules might play a crucial role in the delayed acute rejection phase, in which natural killer cells and macrophages (10) appear to be the main actors, and also in the development of the T‐cell‐dependent (11) specific rejection process.…”