Unparalleled complexity of the MHC class I region in rhesus macaques

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Feb 1;102(5):1626-31. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0409084102. Epub 2005 Jan 21.

Abstract

The highly polymorphic gene products of the classical MHC class I genes in humans (HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-C) play a critical role in the immune defense against intracellular infections. Because non-human primates are important models for AIDS vaccine research, rhesus monkeys from a thoroughly pedigreed and serotyped colony were subjected to full-length cDNA analysis of MHC class I gene transcripts. Rhesus macaques express multiple dominant Mamu-A and Mamu-B transcripts (majors) per chromosome, which are characterized by high expression levels. The presence of additional cDNAs with low levels of expression (minors) suggests evidence for transcriptional control of MHC class I genes. Moreover, phylogenetic analyses illustrate that most of the Mamu-A and Mamu-B loci/lineages identified display no or only limited levels of allelic polymorphism. Thus, MHC class I diversity in rhesus macaques is typified by the existence of an unmatched high number of Mamu-A and Mamu-B region configurations that exhibit polymorphism with regard to the number and combination of transcribed loci present per chromosome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • HLA-A Antigens / chemistry
  • HLA-A Antigens / genetics
  • HLA-A Antigens / immunology*
  • HLA-B Antigens / chemistry
  • HLA-B Antigens / genetics
  • HLA-B Antigens / immunology*
  • HLA-D Antigens / chemistry
  • HLA-D Antigens / genetics
  • HLA-D Antigens / immunology*
  • Macaca mulatta / classification
  • Macaca mulatta / immunology*
  • Major Histocompatibility Complex
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • HLA-A Antigens
  • HLA-B Antigens
  • HLA-D Antigens

Associated data

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  • GENBANK/AJ542568
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