Minor histocompatibility antigen H-Y is expressed on human hematopoietic progenitor cells.

P J Voogt; E Goulmy; W E Fibbe; W F Veenhof; A Brand; J H Falkenburg

doi:10.1172/JCI113697

Department of Hematology, University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Find articles by Voogt, P. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Hematology, University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Find articles by Goulmy, E. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Hematology, University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Find articles by Fibbe, W. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Hematology, University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Find articles by Veenhof, W. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Hematology, University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Find articles by Brand, A. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Hematology, University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Find articles by Falkenburg, J. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Published in Volume 82, Issue 3 on September 1, 1988
J Clin Invest. 1988;82(3):906–912. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI113697.
© 1988 The American Society for Clinical Investigation

Published September 1, 1988 - Version history

Polymorphic minor transplantation antigens probably play an important role in immune mediated graft rejections of bone marrow transplants. Mapping of these antigens on hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) is important since these antigenic determinants may serve as target structures in the rejection process, and it ultimately opens the possibility to match for these antigens. Using a cell-mediated cytotoxicity assay with H-Y-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes as effector cells, a dose-dependent growth inhibition up to 100% of myeloid (CFU-GM), erythroid (BFU-E) and multipotential (CFU-GEMM) HPC of male donors was obtained, indicating expression of the H-Y antigen on these progenitor cells. In contrast, inhibition of relatively mature erythroid and myeloid progenitor cells was only 40-50%, indicating that the recognition of the H-Y antigen diminished during maturation of erythroid and myeloid HPC. Our results show that the H-Y antigen can be recognized on HPC as a target for cytotoxic T cell responses. This may be important in graft rejection of male donor bone marrow grafts by female recipients.