Genetic regulation of the immune response to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). IV. Distinct H-2-linked Ir genes control antibody responses to different HBsAg determinants on the same molecule and map to the I-A and I-C subregions.

Abstract

The murine humoral immune responses to the group-specific a and subtype-specific d/y determinants of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) are controlled by H-2-linked immune response (Ir) genes. High responder (H-2d,q), intermediate responder (H-2a>b>k) and nonresponder (H-2f,s) haplotypes were identified. The kinetics and specificity of in vivo antibody production after HBsAg immunization in congeneic, H-2-recombinant strains was analyzed to further define relevant Ir genes and their influence on the immune response to distinct antigenic determinants. The humoral anti-HBs response is regulated by at least 2 Ir genes, 1 in the I-A subregion (Ir-HBs-1) and 1 in the I-C subregion (Ir-HBs-2) of the murine H.sbd.2 complex. Ir-HBs-1 regulates the primary responses to all HBsAg determinants, whereas the influence of Ir-HBs-2 is determinant specific, affecting the responses to the d or y determinants. The anti-a response is regulated exclusively by Ir-HBs-1. Strains possessing only the Ir-HBs-2 gene [B10.S(9R) and B10.HTT] produce no anti-a response and a subtype-specific antibody response is detected only after secondary or tertiary immunization. The influence of Ir-HBs-2 in the presence of Ir-HBs-1 is detected on primary immunization and is additive rather than exclusive. The presence of the Ek molecule, at least in the context of I-Ak, may have a suppressive influence on the anti-HBs response. HBsAg-specific, T cell proliferative responses were H-2 restricted and the kinetics and specificity of T cell proliferative responses paralleled in vivo antibody production. Although the I-A subregion exerts a dominant influence, distinct Ir-HBs genes, mapping in separate I subregions, control immune responses to alternate HBsAg determinants on the same protein molecule.