Bone marrow origin of Ia molecules purified from epidermal cells.

Using radiation bone marrow chimeras, we have shown that Ia molecules purified from epidermal cell preparations of the mouse reflect the Ia phenotype of the bone marrow donor. This result strongly suggests that Ia molecules are synthesized by a bone-marrow-derived cell in the epidermis. Furthermore, results of peptide map analysis of immunoprecipitated biosynthetically labeled Ia suggest that the Ia molecules found in skin are identical to those found on B lymphocytes. These results support biochemical as well as serologic identity.