The H-2 and Thy-1 alloantigens: Effect of H-2 antigens on the primary anti-Thy-1 response

To elicit a maximal primary immune response to Thy-1 antigens, the responder and donor animals must carry compatible H-2 haplotypes. The phenomenon bears some features of associative recognition as well as antigenic competition. This article provides further evidence in favor of the concept that Thy-1 antigens are recognized in the context of H-2K and H-2D molecules. The differences in magnitude of anti-Thy-1 responses elicited by H-2-compatible or H-2-incompatible cells seem to reflect the recognition of Thy-1 antigens in the context of H-2. While antigenic competition between H-2 and Thy-1 antigen cannot be ruled out, it seems a less likely explanation for these differences.