Skin graft rejection caused by the maternally transmitted antigen Mta

Mta is a medial histocompatibility antigen of the mouse. It does not stimulate a primary mixed lymphocyte response and stimulates only a very weak secondary response. Primary skin grafts are rejected with a mean survival time of 59 days by Mta- NZB recipients, and 39 days by recipients of the C57BL/6 background. Rejection is accelerated in recipients primed against Mta with a skin graft or cells, especially when these differ by multiple minor histocompatibility antigens. Mta is determined by a maternally transmitted, extrachromosomal genetic element, so backcross mice reject skin from their inbred, homozygous paternal strain. Mta, therefore, constitutes a new exception to the classic laws of transplantation.