Constitutive expression of major histocompatibility complex class II antigens in pulmonary epithelium and endothelium varies among different species.

We have observed high constitutive levels of class II antigen expression on porcine and human coronary endothelium, but not on the endothelium of rats and mice. This study examines whether a similar interspecies difference exists in the expression of class II molecules on pulmonary epithelium and endothelium. Lung tissues from naïve human, porcine, and rodent sources were stained with the monoclonal antibody ISCR3 and examined by light microscopy. Immunoperoxidase staining of class II molecules was observed on human and porcine pulmonary epithelium and endothelium, but was absent in rats and mice. By using an antibody with cross-species reactivity, we demonstrated that naïve swine pulmonary epithelium and endothelium, unlike those of rodent species, express basal levels of class II antigens in a manner similar to that observed in human lung tissue. These interspecies differences may explain experimental differences observed between murine and large-animal constructs.