Nonobese diabetic CD4 lymphocytosis maps outside the MHC locus on chromosome 17

Genetic control of homeostasis of peripheral CD4+ lymphocyte levels is incompletely understood. Recent genome scans have linked mouse peripheral CD4 levels to chromosome 17, with strongest linkage to the Ea region. Nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice demonstrate peripheral T-cell lymphocytosis, and previous studies also suggested that the MHC region might control this phenotype. Here we confirm that loci on Chr 17 control NOD peripheral CD4 lymphocytosis. An elevated NOD CD4:CD8 ratio maps to the same region, and we show it is due to increased numbers of CD4+ cells. However, using NOD MHC congenic mice, we demonstrate that the MHC region is excluded, and that NOD peripheral lymphocytosis is controlled by genetic intervals adjacent to the MHC region on Chr 17.