Molecular events in the processing of avidin by antigen-presenting cells (APC). I. The immune response of T lymphocytes to avidin is regulated by H-2-linked Ir genes.

The immune response of T lymphocytes to avidin was measured by proliferative assays, antibody production and delayed-type hypersensitivity. Mice of H-2k haplotypes were found to be low responders, whereas mice of other haplotypes, and particularly of H-2s, were high responders. Ir genes controlling this response were mapped to the I subregion of H-2. Helper T cells were found to be responsible for the Ir phenotype of antibody production. These results indicate the feasibility of using the avidin-biotin complex as a tool for studying molecular mechanisms by which antigens under Ir gene control are processed and presented to T lymphocytes.