Major histocompatibility class II peptide occupancy, antigen presentation, and CD4 super(+) T cell function in mice lacking the p41 isoform of invariant chain

We used a "hit and run" gene targeting strategy to generate mice expressing only the p31 isoform of the conserved invariant (Ii) chain associated with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules. Spleen cells from these mice appear indistinguishable from wild type with respec...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Immunity (Cambridge, Mass.) Mass.), 1995-01, Vol.3 (3), p.385-396
Main Authors: Takaesu, N T, Lower, JA, Robertson, E J, Bikoff, E K
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:We used a "hit and run" gene targeting strategy to generate mice expressing only the p31 isoform of the conserved invariant (Ii) chain associated with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules. Spleen cells from these mice appear indistinguishable from wild type with respect to class II subunit assembly, transport, peptide acquisition, surface expression, and the ability to present intact protein antigens. Moreover, these mutant mice have normal numbers of thymic and peripheral CD4 super(+) T cells, and intact CD4 super(+) T-dependent proliferative responses towards a soluble antigen. In short, MHC class II expression and function are surprisingly unaffected in mice lacking p41 invariant chain, implying that the p31 and p41 isoforms may be functionally redundant in the intact animal.
ISSN:1074-7613