HLA-D restriction of the proliferative response to hapten dinitrophenyl-conjugated cells. I. No indication of cross-reaction between dinitrophenyl-conjugated autologous and nonconjugated allogeneic cells.

Evidence is presented in humans that the dinitrophenylated (DNP) antigen, previously shown to be restricted in cell-mediated cytotoxic assays by the HLA-A and -B antigens, is restricted in the proliferative response by HLA-D antigens. A gene dose effect was observed. Some influence of DNP conjugation on the mixed lymphocyte culture stimulatory capacity is shown, but the restriction phenomenon is obvious with the degree of conjugation chosen. The functional part of HLA-D is more likely to follow DR than D antigens. Unspecific conditioning of alloreactivity in secondary cultures is shown by negative as well as by positive selection procedures to be different from the major part of the DNP-specific clones.