Modulation of peptide-dependent allospecific epitopes on HLA-DR4 molecules by HLA-DM

Peptide binding to HLA-DR molecules in intracellular compartments is facilitated by HLA-DM molecules, present in most types of antigen-presenting cells. Allorecognition of DR specificities represents a form of T cell recognition of the MHC-peptide complex which in some cases is influenced by peptide binding. DRA and DRB*0401 (Dw4) genes were introduced into different cell types including DM-negative and DM-restored mutant cells to analyze recognition of DR4 subtypes by alloreactive T cell clones and Dw4-specific monoclonal antibodies. Distinct patterns of T cell recognition were identified: (i) deficient response to Dw4 molecules in the absence of DM expression in which T cell responses were restored by transfecting DM into the Dw4-expressing cells; and (ii) equivalent recognition of Dw4 on DM- and DM+ cells. Using several mAb to Dw4 molecules, a similar distinction was observed: a shared epitope on Dw4 and Dw14 molecules was partially DM-independent while a Dw4-specific epitope was DM-dependent and cell type-specific. Thus, a subset of both T cell and mAb allodeterminants are influenced by a DM-dependent interaction of MHC molecules with peptides, while the formation of DM-independent allodeterminants may represent direct MHC epitope recognition by the T cell receptor or an alternative peptide loading mechanism distinct from the HLA-DM pathways.