Abstract
The inhibitory effect of HLA antisera on Fc receptors of human lymphoid cells was investigated. The ability of lymphoid cells to form rosettes (FcRFC) with antibody-coated sheep red blood cells and to function as effector cells (K cells) in antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity were used as assay systems. We found that antisera recognizing determinants of the HLA-A, -B, and -C series had no effect on FcRFC, while a specific inhibitory effect was observed of antisera probably reacting with determinants identical to or closely associated with those of the HLA-D series. This inhibitory effect was retained in the F(ab')2 fragments. Specific inhibition of K cells was observed with all HLA antisera, but this effect was lost in the F(ab')2 fragments. We conclude that the Fc receptor of rosette-forming lymphocytes may be closely associated with products of the HLA-D region. This is analogous to the association between the Fc receptor and the Ia antigens on murine rosette-forming B lymphocytes.