POLYMORPHISM OF THE COMPLEMENT COMPONENT C6 IN JAPANESE

Abstract

Genetic polymorphism of human C6 [complement component 6] was investigated in Japanese using isoelectric focusing and a specific hemolytic overlay method. Three common and 6 rare allotypes were identified. Five of these 9 allotypes were reference-typed by the International Reference laboratory. Five of the 6 rare allotypes were considered to be new. The allele frequencies were estimated in the population study as follows: C6 A 0.427, C6 B 0.483, C6 B2 0.076 and the rare alleles (A3, A21, MI, M2, B3 and B4) 0.014. Inheritance of the 3 common and the 2 rare (A3 and M1) allotypes was demonstrated in the family study. The patterns obtained by the pretreatment with neuraminidase are presented.