A novel HLA-D/DR-like antigen specific for human B lymphoid cells. Biochemical evidence for similarity to but nonidentity with known HLA-D/DR antigens.

The polymorphic human B cell-specific antigen, 33.1, detected by a murine monoclonal antibody, was compared by genetics and structural analysis with known human Ia antigens from a panel of DR homozygous Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B lymphoblastoid cell lines. Cells homozygous for DR 1, 2, 4, 5, and w6 were positive, while cells that are DR3,3 or DR7,7 usually failed to express this antigen. Mutant DR null, DC/MB-positive cells were 33.1 positive while DR null, DC/MB-negative cells failed to express this antigen, suggesting the segregation of 33.1 with the DC antigen. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that 33.1 alpha and beta chains were of lower molecular weights than the DR alpha and beta chains isolated from the same cell line. Partial N-terminal amino acid sequence analyses were carried out for the heavy and light chains of the 33.1 antigen radiolabeled with [3H] phenylalanine. The results of these analyses, in conjunction with previous data on tissue distribution, indicate that the 33.1 antigen is a non-DR but Ia-like antigen closely related to the previously defined I-A homologues, DC and DS.