Distribution of MHC class II antigens in feline tissues and peripheral blood

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Abstract
A new monoclonal antibody raised against gradient-purified feline immunodeficiency virus was found to recognize a bimolecular complex, comprising 27–29 kD and 32–35 kD subunits, on feline peripheral blood lymphocytes. Immunoperoxidase staining of feline tissues with this antibody, designated 43.2H2, demonstrated a reactivity pattern similar to that described for MHC II antigens of the dog, horse, and pig, but differed from human and mouse in having staining of T-cell zones in spleen and lymph nodes. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that 42.3H2 reacted with 88.97%± 16.00% of feline peripheral blood lymphocytes (n = 20). This high level of reactivity was found to be consistent by repeated sampling over a 4-month period. Two-color flow cytometric analysis was used to determined the reactivity pattern on lymphocyte subsets: 88.92%± 7.30% of CD4+ lymphocytes were 42.3H2-positive, while 85.99%± 11.46% of CD8+ cells were positive (n = 11 for both). B lymphocytes had the highest reactivity (99.47%± 0.45; n=9) and also had the highest fluorescence intensity. By gating based on light scatter properties, 95.06%± 7.35% of monocytes were 42.3H2-reactive (n= 18), while granulocytes were negative.