Differential function of major histocompatibility complex antigens in T-lymphocyte activation.

We have emphasised the functional dichotomy of MHC LD and LD antigens as well as the differences in cellular responses to these antigens. Perhaps in so doing we have failed to stress adequately the similarities that exist. But while the similarities (for example skin graft rejection associated with both K and I region differences) are so very clear, the differences have best allowed our progressive understanding of MHC induced cellular responses from the perspective stressed in this article. Of greatest importance to our understanding of these transplantation antigens are the potentially differential roles for the LD and SD antigens in the complex series of events that are collectively referred to as the "allograft reaction". It has been suggested that these differences may be "merely quantitative". This possibility has been discussed repeatedly in our previous reports on the distinction of LD and SD. In fact, the great bulk of biological phenomena can be reduced to quantitative differences. It would seem to us that sufficient evidence for such differential activity exists to make the LD-SD dichotomy model an heuristically valuable one for purposes of designing future experiments. We have discussed the clinical relevance of this model elsewhere. Many authors have speculated and evidence has been gathered to suggest, that cell surface antigens associated with the MHC are important in developmental and other cell interactions. Some studies have directly addressed the question of the need for MHC compatibility to allow cell interaction to proceed optimally. It thus seems most appropriate that the genetic complex with which we are dealing has been termed the major histocompatibility complex; allowing for the literal interpretation of this term this may be the genetic region that by its influence on "tissue compatibility" may control critical cellular interactions in addition to those observed in allograft reactions. It is the simple good fortune for those whose attention was focused on this complex by transplantation problems to find themselves with a panorama of biological phenomena that require extensive experimental probing and integration, hopefully ultimately leading to an understanding of the MHC in a broader context than has to date been possible.