Delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to H-Y: characterization and mapping of Ir genes

This paper examines the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to male (H-Y) antigen(s). Female mice of the H-2b haplotype developed delayed footpad reaction to syngeneic or allogenic male thymus and spleen cells after priming with syngeneic male thymus and spleen cells. The reaction peaks at 24 h, has classical DTH histology and is specific to H-Y antigen as it is not elicited with female cells. Cell transfer studies show that donor/recipient matching at the I-Bb subregion is necessary for successful transfer of DTH and that the effective primed population is Thy-1+, Lyt-1+, 2-. DTH response to H-Y antigen appears to be confined to mice of the H-2b haplotype. There appears to be a lack of associative recognition between H-Y antigen and MHC-coded determinants in the effector phase of DTH, and macrophage processing of H-Y seems likely, since nonresponder haplotypes can elicit the DTH response. Studies with H-2b recombinant mouse strains indicate that the dominant Ir gene is located in the I-B region. Female F1 hybrid mice derived from matings of strains not involving H-2b haplotype failed to develop DTH to H-Y. In summary, these data imply that a complete correlation exists between DTH to H-Y and the ability to reject male skin graft, suggesting that the effector mechanisms of skin-graft rejection may closely involve DTH cells.