Phylogenetic hierarchy of antigen-presenting ability in antigen-specific T cell activation

The phylogenetic hierarchy of antigen-presenting ability was shown to exist in xenogeneic mouse, rat and human T cell-antigen-presenting cell (APC) interaction. The antigen-presenting ability of human APC is dominant over that of rat APC and the ability of rat APC is dominant over that of mouse APC. The HLA-DR molecule was shown to function for antigen presentation to PPD-specific autologous human and xenogeneic murine T cells.