Mice homozygous for the B2mtm1Unc targeted mutation have little if any MHC class I protein expression on the cell surface. There are few CD8+ cytotoxic T-cells and under some circumstances a compensatory increase in CD4+ cytotoxic T-cells. Immune responses involving CD8+ T-cells are severely deficient providing a model to assess the role of CD8+ cells and class I MHC in various experimental systems. Other traits of B2M deficient mice include: NK cells deficiency, NK1+ T cells deficiency and decreased levels of serum Ig. Some forms of lupis autoimmunity are severely reduced. (Christianson, J Immunol 156:4932-9, 1996). Hemachromatosis has been noted in certain genetic backgrounds (Rothenberg BE, Voland JR, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 93:1529-34, 1996). In an attempt to offer alleles on well-characterized or multiple genetic backgrounds, alleles are frequently moved to a genetic background different from that on which an allele was first characterized. This is the case for the strain above. It should be noted that the phenotype could vary from that originally described. We will modify the strain description if necessary as published results become available.

These B2m knock-out mice exhibit little if any MHC class I protein expression on the cell surface.

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