Generation of HLA-D specific primed lymphocyte typing (PLT) cells and cross-reactions of PLT-cells primed with homozygous typing cells.

An approach for the selection of HLA-D specific primed lymphocyte typing (PLT) cells is described. The responder cells were primed with homozygous typing cells. Reproducible extra reactions were found and were analyzed in relation to HLA-D antigens defined by homozygous in cells (HTC's). The secondary response of 105 different PLT-cell combinations generated by 29 different primary responders against 19 different homozygous typing cells of the specificifies Dw1 to Dw8 and the local specificity "H" were tested in secondary PLT toward 17 different homozygous typing cells and 10 heterozygous cells. Cross-reactions were defined as reactions equal to or higher than the lowest HLA-D specific reaction observed. The entire experimental design and data analysis gave rise to a conservative definition of cross-reactivity. Two main groups of cross-reacting HLA-D determinants seem to exist: (i) Dwl, 3, 4, 7, and the local specificity "H", and (ii) Dw2, 5, 6, 8, and "H". The primary pairwise cross reactions were in group (i): Dw1-3, Dw1-"H", Dw3-4, Dw3-7, Dw7-"H", and in group (ii): Dw2-6, Dw2-8, Dw5-8, and Dw5-"H". The existence of such cross-reactions is likely to interfere with the results of PLT-typing and should be taken into account when attempts are made to develop HLA-D specific PLT-cells.