Antibodies to HLA-E in Nonalloimmunized Males: Pattern of HLA-Ia Reactivity of Anti–HLA-E–Positive Sera

Abstract

Natural anti-HLA Abs found in sera of healthy nonalloimmunized males recognize HLA-Ia alleles parallel to those recognized by anti-HLA-E mAbs (MEM-E/02/06/07). Therefore, some of the HLA-Ia Abs seen in healthy males could be due to anti-HLA-E Abs cross-reacting with HLA-Ia. If anti-HLA-E Abs occur in healthy nonalloimmunized males, it can be assessed whether they evoke HLA-Ia reactivity as do mouse HLA-E mAbs. IgG and IgM Abs to HLA-E and HLA-Ia alleles are identified in sera of healthy males using microbeads coated with recombinant denatured HLA-E or a panel of rHLA-Ia alleles. The pattern of allelic recognition is comparable to that of anti-HLA-E mAbs. Sixty-six percent of the sera with HLA-E IgG have a high level of HLA-Ia IgG, whereas 70% of those with no anti-HLA-E Abs have no HLA-Ia Abs. HLA-E IgM/IgG ratios of sera are divided into four groups: IgM(Low)/IgG(Low), IgM(High)/IgG(Low), IgM(High)/IgG(High), and IgM(Low)/IgG(High). These groups correspond to anti-HLA-Ia IgM/IgG ratio groups. When HLA-E IgM and IgG are absent or present in males, the IgM or IgG of HLA-Ia are similarly absent or present. The mean fluorescent intensity of HLA-Ia Abs correlates with that of anti-HLA-E Abs. Most importantly, HLA-E and HLA-Ia reactivities of the sera are inhibited by the shared, but cryptic, peptide sequences (117)AYDGKDY(123) and (137)DTAAQIS(143). Therefore, Abs to the H chain of HLA-E may be responsible for some of the HLA-Ia allele reactivity of the natural HLA-Ia Ab in human sera. Absence of any anti-HLA-Ia Abs in 112 nonvegans and the presence of the same in vegans suggest that dietary meat proteins might not have induced the natural allo-HLA Abs.