# REGULATION OF HLA ANTIGEN EXPRESSION

> **NIH NIH R01** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 1990 · $182,493

## Abstract

Somatic cell hybridization of human T- and B- lymphoblastoid cell
lines (LCL) induces the expression of silent HLA genes encoded by
the T-LCL partner.  By using as fusion partners regulatory mutant
B-LCL lacking class I or class II antigens on the cell surface, a
minimum of two trans-acting genes regulating class I antigen
expression and two trans-acting genes regulating class II antigen
expression have been identified.  Three of these genes act by
regulating levels of specific mRNA.  The fourth facilitates the
assembly of HLA class I glycoprotein-beta2 microglobulin dimers.
The objectives of this proposal are to characterize these
regulatory genes, and other HLA regulatory genes which may be
identified in additional mutant B-LCL.  Genes will be isolated by
molecular cloning techniques.  They will be identified by
subtractive hybridization approaches, or by secondary
mutagenesis, using retroviral insertion, of hybrids of T-LCL with
mutant B-LCL.  Restoration of class I or class II antigen
expression in the appropriate negative variant cell line upon
transfection of a cloned gene will provide conclusive evidence of
its regulatory function.  Identification and structural
characterization of genes which mediate the pre- and post-
translational control of HLA antigen expression may ultimately
contribute to our understanding of the regulation of in vivo
immune responses.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3126424
- **Project number:** 5R01AI015775-12
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** TP7EK8DZV6N5
- **Principal Investigator:** PETER CRESSWELL
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1990
- **Award amount:** $182,493
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1979-05-01 → 1991-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3126424

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3126424, REGULATION OF HLA ANTIGEN EXPRESSION (5R01AI015775-12). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3126424. Licensed CC0.

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