Generation of functional I-Ed variants from an antigen-presenting macrophage cell line

We report the ability of the BAC1.2 macrophage cell line to present antigen both to populations of antigen-primed lymph node cells and to T cell hybridomas. We also describe the selection of I-Ed variants derived from this cell line. These variants have lost the ability to present antigen to an I-Ed plus ovalbumin-specific T cell line, but retain the ability to stimulate an I-Ad plus ovalbumin-restricted T cell line, and a T cell line reactive with I-Ed alone. These variants should aid in the elucidation of structural elements of the I-E molecule involved in the interaction with helper T cells.