Antigen-specific soluble helper activity for murine major histocompatibility complex-encoded molecules. I. Kinetics of factor production after skin transplantation and genetic mapping of the H-2 region specificity.

Antigen-specific soluble helper molecules are produced during major histocompatibility complex-disparate allograft priming. Genetic mapping studies with appropriate recombinant and mutant lines of mice have defined the antigen specificities of the soluble helper molecules described here as being directed against the H-2Dd molecules. The production of antigen-specific helper molecules is a relatively early event after H-2Dd-region allograft priming. A later phase of factor production near the time of graft rejection also contains nonspecific helper factors and IL-2.