The level of expression of class‐I MHC antigens in adenovirus‐transformed human cell lines

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Abstract
The level of expression of the class‐l major histocompatibility (MHC) antigen was determined in a series of human embryo cell lines transformed with either adenovirus 12 (Ad 12) early region I (El) or adenovirus 5 (Ad 5) E1 DNA or with combinations of Ad 12 early region IA (El A) or Ad 2 EIA with activated N‐ras DNA. MHC class‐l antigen expression was greatly reduced in all Ad 12 transformants, compared to primary cells. Expression was also reduced in the Ad 5 cell lines transformed with EIA and EIB DNA, but levels were near normal in those lines with only EIA DNA present. Amounts of MHC class‐l antigen on the cell surface, as determined by RIA and FACS analysis, generally reflected total cellular levels as determined by Western blotting. Expression of β2 microglobulin was also much reduced in those cell lines with low levels of MHC class‐l antigen. The treatment of primary cells and all the transformants with human γ‐interferon resulted in increased expression of HLA on the cell surface. Infection of primary human cells with Ad 12 or with a series of Ad 12 mutants did not have any effect on the MHC class‐l antigens present.