Low expression of a D/L-hybrid mutant (D/L) in the novel haplotype H-2 identified in atopic dermatitis model NC/Nga mice.

Environmental factors and the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). However, MHC type (H2 haplotype) of AD model mice NC/Nga is poorly understood. Alloreactive CD8 or CD4 T cells in NC/Nga strongly responded to each antigen-presenting cells (A/J: H-2, C57BL/6: H-2, BALB/c: H-2, or C3H/HeJ: H-2), suggesting that NC/Nga has other H2 haplotype. Polymorphic microsatellite (CA) repeats in TNF-α gene differ based on the H2 haplotype at present. NC/Nga's (CA) repeats (n = 19) were different from other examined strains, A/J (n = 14), BALB/c (n = 14), C3H/HeJ (n = 16), and C57BL/6 (n = 20). Using flow cytometry and genotyping, we demonstrated the NC/Nga H2 haplotype had a unique phenotype (K, I-A, and I-E) in which D and L lacked as protein despite sensitive mRNA detection. The loss of D and L was caused by forming a unique D/L-hybrid mutant (D/L). We propose to call this novel H2 haplotype the "H-2," and provide the important information regarding the AD research using NC/Nga mice.