Suppression of class I human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen by c-myc is locus specific

The c-myc oncogene downregulates class I HLA expression in human melanoma. The major class I HLA antigens are encoded by three loci, A, B, and C, and we investigated whether these loci are suppressed equally by c-myc. In three melanoma cell lines with high c-myc expression, we analyzed mRNA, protein, and cell surface expression of the class I HLA antigens. Whereas the HLA-B locus expression was found to be strongly reduced, the HLA-A locus was expressed normally. Analysis of c-myc-transfected clones of two melanoma cell lines confirmed that c-myc preferentially suppresses the class I HLA-B locus. Immunohistochemical analysis of fresh melanoma lesions also showed that in the tumors the HLA-A loci are expressed normally, while on the majority of tumor cells no HLA-B antigen expression was found. This downregulation may have consequences for the recognition of malignant cells by tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Our results predict that HLA-B-restricted cytotoxic T cells will be unable to kill high c-myc-expressing melanoma cells.