MHC Class II Products

MHC Class II antigens are heterodimers consisting of one alpha chain(31-34kD) and one beta chain (26-29kD). The family of monoclonal antibodies (ER-TR 3, ER-TR 2, ER-TR 1) detect MHC class II antigens encoded by the murine Ia region of the H-2 complex, corresponding to the human HLA-DR region. MHC Class II antigens are a valuable tool for studying T helper cell interaction with class II positive antigen presenting cells (dendritic cells, B cells, macrophages) and offer new possibilities for studying the development of T helper cells since these antibodies also stain stromal cells in the thymus. MHC Class II antigens are also inducible on a number of other cells (endothelium and epithelial cells) by interferon gamma.