ROLES OF BASIGIN, A MEMBER OF THE IMMUNOGLOBULIN SUPERFAMILY, IN BEHAVIOR AS TO AN IRRITATING ODOR, LYMPHOCYTE-RESPONSE, AND BLOOD-BRAIN-BARRIER

Basigin is a transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the immunoglobuli n superfamily. Using the knockout mouse lacking the basigin gene (Bsg) , we analyzed the function of basigin in adult mice lacking the gene [ Bsg (-/-)]. Although histochemical studies on the localization of basi gin (also called HT7 and neurothelin) strongly indicated that it is in volved in the function of the blood-brain barrier, basigin knockout mi ce showed only a little difference, if any, to wild-type mice in the f unction of the blood brain-barrier. The mitogenic response of lymphocy tes upon mixed lymphocyte reaction was greater in Bsg (-/-) mice. Fina lly, Bsg (-/-) mice repeatedly visited filter paper impregnated with a cetic acid or isozine, indicating an abnormality in either reception o f the odor or behavior as to it. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.