Dissimilar effects of ultraviolet light on HLA-D and HLA-DR antigens.

Since HLA-DR antigens are closely related to HLA-D antigens, we studied the effect of low-dose ultraviolet irradiation on the ability of human lymphocytes to induce a proliferative response in mixed lymphocyte culture (HLA-D) and on the serologic reactivity of B lymphocyte HLA-DR antigens. We found (1) no alteration in the serologic definition of DR antigens despite the abrogation of the induction of proliferative responses in mixed lymphocyte culture, (2) no evidence that ultraviolet light (UVL) stimulated suppressor cells contributed to the loss of allostimulation, and (3) no evidence that the abrogation of the induction of proliferative responses could be modified by increasing the number of UVL exposed lymphocytes in mixed lymphocyte culture. These findings suggest that HLA-D and HLA-DR antigens are different molecularly, but are also consistent with the concept that certain active metabolic processes are required of stimulator cells for allostimulation and that these processes are UVL sensitive.