INTERACTIVE EFFECT OF GM ALLOTYPES AND HLA-B LOCUS ANTIGENS ON THE HUMAN-ANTIBODY RESPONSE TO A BACTERIAL-ANTIGEN

Abstract

Healthy adults (200) were immunized with 1 .mu.g of the bacterial antigen monomeric flagellin from Salmonella adelaide and grouped as responders and non-responders on the basis of a rise in titer of antibody [Ab] 2 wk after immunization. Immunoglobulin (Ig) allotypes G1m(a), G1m(z) and G3m(g) were more frequent among responders who made IgG Ab (P < 0.02) and HLA-B12 was more frequent among responders who made IgM Ab (P < 0.05). The mean log titer of IgG Ab was higher in females (P < 0.001), in subjects with G1m(a), G1m(z) and G3m(g) allotypes (P < 0.05) and in Gm heterozygotes (P < 0.01). The mean log titer of the IgG Ab response in subjects with particular Gm phenotypes was dependent on the HLA-B locus phenotypes HLA-B7, B8 and B12 (P < 0.005); among those with the phenotype Gm(a-x-b+), subjects with HLA-B7 were low responders and those with HLA-B8 were high responders. There may be immune response genes within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) which interact with Gm-linked genes in determining levels of serum Ab of different isotypes and specificities.