Differential expression of bovine MHC class II antigens identified by monoclonal antibodies

Four monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), UC-A4, UC-D3, UC-H9, and IL-A21, specific for bovine major histocompatibility complex class II proteins are described. Sequential immunoprecipitation experiments using biotin-labeled peripheral blood mononuclear cells suggested, but did not conclusively establish, that each of these antibodies recognized a different epitope. The epitope identified by IL-A21 appeared to be common to all of the class II proteins precipitated by the four mAbs, and UC-D3 and UC-H9 each appeared to react with distinct epitopes on separate subsets of these class II proteins. Monoclonal antibody UC-A4 appeared to identify an epitope on a subset of the class II molecules identified by UC-H9. Differences found in the expression by lymphoid cells of class II proteins identified by the four mAbs were indicative of each mAb recognizing a different epitope. UC-H9 and IL-A21 class II proteins were detected on all surface immunoglobulin (S'Ig) positive cells in peripheral blood, but UC-A4 and UC-D3 class II proteins were not. Expression of UC-A4 class II proteins, detected at low density on a strikingly reduced number of S'Ig⁺ cells from the blood of some bovine leukosis virus-infected cattle, could be increased by culturing these B cells with lipopolysaccharide. All peripheral blood monocytes expressed UC-H9 and IL-A21 class II proteins, but only a proportion of monocytes expressed detectable UC-A4 and UC-D3 class II proteins. Almost all mitogen-stimulated BoCD4⁺ and BoCD8⁺ T cells expressed UC-H9 and IL-A21 class II proteins, whereas fewer stimulated T cells of both subsets expressed UC-A4 and UC-D3 class II proteins. All gamma/delta receptor (γ/δ R) T cells expressed UC- D3, UC-H9, and IL-A21 class II proteins, but no cells (of γ/δ R⁺ or CD4⁺/CD2⁺ phenotype) from γ/δ R⁺ T cell-enriched cultures expressed UC- A4 class II proteins.