Separation of four class II molecules from DR2 and DRw6 homozygous B lymphoid cell lines

Four human class II molecules, one FA, one DC1, and two DR-like molecules, were isolated from DR2 and DRw6 homozygous cell lines by means of a variety of monoclonal antibodies and were compared with each other by two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis. Anti-DR2 or anti-DR3 + 5 + w6 sera immunoprecipitated two distinct light chains (L1 and L2) and one heavy chain (H1) from a DR2 or DRw6 homozygous cell line, respectively. One or both of these two class II molecules were also immunoprecipitated by "DR-specific" monoclonal antibodies and were considered to constitute a "DR" family of molecules. Three DC1-specific monoclonal antibodies, SDR4.1, Tu22, and PLM5, immunoprecipitated a set of heavy (H2) and light (L3) chains distinct from those of two DR-like molecules. The heavy chains of the DC1 antigens from DR2 and DRw6 cell lines were indistinguishable, whereas the light chains were structurally distinct from each other. A fourth molecule, FA, was identified by a novel monoclonal antibody and was also detected by two additional antibodies, Tu39 and SG171, that blocked the SB-specific T-cell proliferative response. The FA light chain (L4) was distinct from those of the former three antigens on both cell lines, whereas the FA heavy chain was indistinguishable from the DC1 heavy chain (H2) in this 2-D gel analysis. Thus, four light chains and two heavy chains were isolated from both DR2 and DRw6 homozygous cell lines. A possible gene-antigen organization of the DC-like antigens was also discussed.