A major histocompatibility locus in fish: serological identification and segregation of transplantation antigens in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Abstract

In this study, experiments are described that were designed to investigate whether fish have an immune regulatory systems similar to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in higher vertebrate species. From combinations of gynogenetic carp showing either slow or fast rejection of skin transplants, the latter were chosen for alloantiserum production by hyperimmunization with peripheral blood leucocytes. The resulting alloantisera were analyzed for hemagglutinating reactivity with gynogenetic siblings and proved to be operationally monospecific in absorption experiments. The serologically determined carp erythrocyte specificities were shown to correspond to two codominantly expressed allelic products of a single locus and were designated K1 and K2, respectively. Flow cytometer analysis revealed that the same products are also present on leucocytes from peripheral blood, thymus, spleen, and pronephros. K1- and K2-homozygous second-generation gynogenetic siblings were used to study the histocompatibility nature of the K locus products. Skin transplants between K-allogeneic gynogenetic siblings were rejected significantly faster than within K-syngeneic combinations. Taken together, these data suggest that the K locus incorporates MHC class I-like characteristics.

Differing levels of Mhc class II β chain expression in a range of tissues from vaccinated and non-vaccinated Atlantic salmon (Salmo salarL.)

“…There is mounting evidence that teleost fish also harbour functional Mhc class II genes (Stet & Egberts, 1991; reviewed by Lie & Grimholt, 1996). Studies of mixed leucocyte reactions (Caspi & Avtalion, 1984;Miller et al, 1985Miller et al, , 1986, acute allograft rejection (Hildemann, 1970;Kaastrup et al, 1989) and in vitro antibody responses (Miller & Clem, 1984;Clem et al, 1985;Miller et al, 1985;Ginkel et al, 1992), all support the presence of functional Mhc class II genes in teleosts. Furthermore, in vitro studies have shown that teleost leucocytes are capable of antigen processing (Vallejo et al, 1991a(Vallejo et al, ,b, 1992.…”

Expression of Mhc class I mRNA in tissues from vaccinated and non-vaccinated Atlantic salmon (Salmo salarL.)

“…The organisation of the Mhc genes in teleosts is thus the subject of intense investigation, and there is evidence for at least two Mhc class I loci in the Atlantic salmon (Grimholt et al, in press). There is also mounting evidence for the existence of functional Mhc proteins in teleosts including mixed leukocyte reactivity (Stet & Egberts, 1991) and the detection of a co-dominantly expressed histocompatibility alloantigen that correlates with skin transplant rejection in carp (Kaastrup et al, 1989). Mhc organisation, cloning data and studies of function in teleosts have recently been reviewed (Lie & Grimholt, 1996), and a wider consideration of vertebrate Mhc organisation and origin has also been presented (Klein & Sato, 1998).…”

New ? chain-encoding Mhc class II genes in the carp

“…Total cellular RNA was isolated from homogenized spleen and pronephros of six individuals of a second generation gynogenetic carp line A4.10 (Kaastrup et al 1989), the poly (A) + fraction was converted to cDNA, and a cDNA library was constructed according to the protocol described by Schneider and co-workers (1991). The library was screened with the zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio) cDNA probe BC1241 which encompasses most of the coding sequence of one of the * Permanent address: Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Yokohama 232, Japan.…”