Possible use of established cell lines for MLR locus typing.

MLR histocompatibility typing was performed by in vitro stimulation of lymphocytes from various persons with fresh lymphocytes (irradiated) or with lymphoblostoid cell lines (mito-mycin-treated) derived from donors homozygous at the MLR locus. MLC responses to both types of stimulation correlated strongly suggesting that a) established lymphoblastoid line cells can express products of the MLR loc and b) fresh lymphocytes can be replaced by these long term lines in MLR typing. Two lines (LV-B and MS-B) derived from two MLR homozygous donors (lv and MS) were used throughout these experiments. It is possible that as additional lines are established from such MLR homozygous donors, a panel of typing cells could be created which would serve to standardize MLR typing and allow selection of unrelated but histocompatible donors for transplantation.