Distinct recognition sites on histocompatibility antigens for antibodies and cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Studies with monoclonal antibodies show that allodeterminants are concentrated on H-2 molecules in several distinct epitope regions. Different parts of H-2 molecules can also be recognized by alloreactive or H-2 restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes, but these parts do not appear to be identical to those recognized by antibodies. These data show that an H-2 molecule can be subdivided into several specialized regions and that the B and T cell compartments of the immune system recognize different regions on H-2 molecules.