New HLA-A2 variants defined by monoclonal antibodies and cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Three HLA-A2 variants, A2-DW, A2-KC, and A2-Lee, were identified in three Chinese donors using a panel of monoclonal antibodies. A2-DW was negative with two of the ten HLA-A2 monoclonal antibodies tested, whereas A2-KC was negative with five of the ten and A-2 Lee was negative with one. Epstein-Barr virus-specific cytotoxic T cells generated from the A2-DW donor recognized and killed target cells prepared from the A2-KC donor, but did not recognize target cells from HLA-A2.1, -A2.2, or -A2.4 donors. In isoelectric focusing studies, A2-DW and A2-KC focus in identical positions more acidic than the other HLA-A2 antigens tested.