ASSOCIATION OF H2A(B) WITH RESISTANCE TO COLLAGEN-INDUCED ARTHRITIS IN H2-RECOMBINANT MOUSE STRAINS - AN ALLELE ASSOCIATED WITH REDUCTION OF SEVERAL APPARENTLY UNRELATED RESPONSES

HLA class II alleles can protect against immunological diseases. Seeki ng an animal model for a naturally occurring protective allele, we scr eened a panel of H2-congenic and recombinant mouse strains for ability to protect against collagen-induced arthritis. The strains were cross ed with the susceptible strain DBA/1, and the F-1 hybrids immunized wi th cattle and chicken type II collagen. Hybrids having the H2A(b) alle le displayed a reduced incidence and duration of the disease. They als o had a reduced level of pre-disease inflammation, but not of anti-col lagen antibodies. The allele is already known to be associated with re duction of other apparently unrelated immune responses, suggesting tha t some form of functional differentiation may operate that is not excl usively related to epitope-binding. It is suggested that this may refl ect allelic variation in the class II major histocompatibility complex promoter region.