Roles of basigin, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, in behavior as to an irritating odor, lymphocyte response, and blood-brain barrier.

Basigin is a transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. Using the knockout mouse lacking the basigin gene (Bsg), we analyzed the function of basigin in adult mice lacking the gene [Bsg (-1-)]. Although histochemical studies on the localization of basigin (also called HT7 and neurothelin) strongly indicated that it is involved in the function of the blood-brain barrier, basigin knockout mice showed only a little difference, if any, to wild-type mice in the function of the blood brain-barrier. The mitogenic response of lymphocytes upon mixed lymphocyte reaction was greater in Bsg (-1-) mice. Finally, Bsg (-1-) mice repeatedly visited filter paper impregnated with acetic acid or isozine, indicating an abnormality in either reception of the odor or behavior as to it.