Somatic cell genetic analysis of HLA-A, B, C and human? 2-microglobulin expression

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Abstract
We have examined the cell surface expression of the human histocompatibility antigens HLA-A, B, C and β2-microglobulin (β2m) on a human-mouse somatic cell hybrid line. Using specific antibodies and the fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS), we viably fractionated and characterized four separate hybrid subpopulations (HLA+,β2m+; HLA +,β2m−; HLA−,β2m+; HLA−,β2m−). Hybrid selection based on surface antigen expression resulted in corresponding genetic selection for and against human chromosomes 6 and 15. Studies of the homogeneous hybrid sublines revealed that the presence of human β2m in a hybrid cell dramatically increased the surface expression of human HLA-A, B, C and mouse H-2Kk antigens. The results demonstrate the importance of human chromosome-specific surface markers and the fluorescence-activated cell sorter in somatic cell genetic analysis.