Lack of HLA-class I antigens in human neuroblastoma cells: analysis of its relationship to TAP and tapasin expression

We studied the constitutive and the interferon (IFN)-gamma -induced expression of HLA class I antigen heavy chain, beta (2)-microglobulin (beta (2)m), TAP-1, TAP-2 and tapasin in a panel of eleven neuroblastoma cell lines. Surface expression of HLA class I antigens was low in eight out of eight neuroblastoma cell lines bearing MYC-N amplification and/or Ip deletion, while two out of three neuroblastoma cell lines lacking these genetic alterations showed normal expression. IFN-gamma treatment restored HLA class I antigen surface expression in all neuroblastoma cell lines. Eight out of 11 neuroblastoma cell lines did not express TAP-1 mRNA and three of them also lacked TAP-2 mRNA. beta (2) m mRNA was barely detectable or absent in five neuroblastoma cell lines, while tapasin mRNA was always expressed. IFN-gamma upregulated the expression of HLA class I heavy chain, beta (2) m, TAP-1, TAP-2 and tapasin, as detected at mRNA or protein level. Post-transcriptional events were involved in altered TAP-1 and beta (2) m expression in one peculiar neuroblastoma cell line. These data indicate that multiple mechanisms play a role in the HLA class I antigen-deficient phenotype of human neuroblastoma.