Association of the HL-A7 cross-reacting group with a specific reaginic antibody response in allergic man

Natural human Bet v 1-specific IgG antibodies recognize non-conformational epitopes whereas IgE reacts with conformational epitopes

BACKGROUND

The nature of epitopes on Bet v 1 recognized by natural IgG antibodies of birch pollen allergic patients and birch pollen-exposed but non-sensitized subjects has not been studied in detail.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate IgE and IgG recognition of Bet v 1 and to study the effects of natural Bet v 1-specific IgG antibodies on IgE recognition of Bet v 1 and Bet v 1-induced basophil activation.

METHODS

Sera from birch pollen allergic patients (BPA, n = 76), allergic patients without birch pollen allergy (NBPA, n = 40) and non-allergic individuals (NA, n = 48) were tested for IgE, IgG as well as IgG1 and IgG4 reactivity to folded recombinant Bet v 1, two unfolded recombinant Bet v 1 fragments comprising the N-terminal (F1) and C-terminal half of Bet v 1 (F2) and unfolded peptides spanning the corresponding sequences of Bet v 1 and the apple allergen Mal d 1 by ELISA or micro-array analysis. The ability of Bet v 1-specific serum antibodies from non-allergic subjects to inhibit allergic patients IgE or IgG binding to rBet v 1 or to unfolded Bet v 1-derivatives was assessed by competition ELISAs. Furthermore, the ability of serum antibodies from allergic and non-allergic subjects to modulate Bet v 1-induced basophil activation was investigated using rat basophilic leukaemia cells expressing the human FcεRI which had been loaded with IgE from BPA patients.

RESULTS

IgE antibodies from BPA patients react almost exclusively with conformational epitopes whereas IgG, IgG1 and IgG4 antibodies from BPA, NBPA and NA subjects recognize mainly unfolded and sequential epitopes. IgG competition studies show that IgG specific for unfolded/sequential Bet v 1 epitopes is not inhibited by folded Bet v 1 and hence the latter seem to represent cryptic epitopes. IgG reactivity to Bet v 1 peptides did not correlate with IgG reactivity to the corresponding Mal d 1 peptides and therefore does not seem to be a result of primary sensitization to PR10 allergen-containing food. Natural Bet v 1-specific IgG antibodies inhibited IgE binding to Bet v 1 only poorly and could even enhance Bet v 1-specific basophil activation.

CONCLUSION

IgE and IgG antibodies from BPA patients and birch pollen-exposed non-sensitized subjects recognize different epitopes. These findings explain why natural allergen-specific IgG do not protect against allergic symptoms and suggest that allergen-specific IgE and IgG have different clonal origin.

Exome variants associated with asthma and allergy

The mutational spectrum of asthma and allergy associated genes is not known although recent biobank based exome sequencing studies included these traits. We therefore conducted a secondary analysis of exome data from 281,104 UK Biobank samples for association of mostly rare variants with asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis. Variants of interest (VOI) were tabulated, shared genes annotated and compared to earlier genome-wide SNP association studies (GWAS), whole genome sequencing, exome and bisulfit sequencing studies. 354 VOI were significantly associated with asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis. They cluster mainly in two large regions on chromosome 6 and 17. After exclusion of the variants associated with atopic dermatitis and redundant variants, 321 unique VOI remain in 122 unique genes. 30 genes are shared among the 87 genes with increased and the 65 genes with decreased risk for allergic disease. 85% of genes identified earlier by common GWAS SNPs are not replicated here. Most identified genes are located in interferon ɣ and IL33 signaling pathway. These genes include already known but also new pharmacological targets, including the IL33 receptor ST2/IL1RL1, as well as TLR1, ALOX15, GSDMA, BTNL2, IL13 and IKZF3. Future pharmacological studies will need to included these VOI for stratification of the study population paving the way to individualized treatment.

Association between HLA Antigens and Birch Pollen Allergy in Japanese Subjects

Birch pollen is a very common cause of nasal allergy (pollinosis) not only in Scandinavia, Europe, Canada, and the northern part of the United States but also in Hokkaido, Japan. Although there are many papers describing the association of HLA antigens and pollinosis caused by many other allergens, there is no report about the association of HLA antigens and birch pollen allergy. In this paper, we performed an HLA population study of birch pollen-allergic patients in Japan and their pattern analysis of HLA-DRB and HLA-DQB gene by the Southern blot hybridization technique. Our population study data indicated that the HLA-DR9 and HLA-DQw3 phenotypes strongly associated with the development of birch pollen allergy in Japanese subjects. By restriction fragment length polymorphism pattern analysis, some restriction fragments of the HLA-DQB gene were detected only in the patient group. These data suggested that there was a significant association between HLA class II antigens and the development of birch pollen allergy in Japanese subjects.

Genome-wide association studies in asthma; perhaps, the end of the beginning

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

A large number of genetic loci contribute towards an individual's susceptibility to asthma and other complex diseases. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have provided us with a wealth of loci associated with asthma susceptibility, asthma endotypes and responsiveness to asthma medications. The reproducibility of these genetic loci across different studies highlights the interplay of general and population-specific risk alleles in asthma. Although GWASs have been successful in identifying disease-associated loci, there is still large potential for such studies to provide further insights into asthma pathogenesis.

RECENT FINDINGS

GWASs over the past year have extended study design well beyond the simple case-control and continuous phenotype association formats, for example, including interactions with environmental factors, integrating GWAS data with epigenetic data and GWASs in animal models, incorporating pathway analyses and utilising emerging sequencing technologies.

SUMMARY

Moving beyond traditional GWAS formats is likely to significantly enhance our understanding of the genetic basis for asthma. This review discusses where we are after half a decade of asthma GWASs, and focuses on advances over the past year that show where the GWAS field is headed in the future.

Genome-wide linkage analyses of total serum IgE using variance components analysis in asthmatic families

Variance components models were used to analyze total IgE levels in families ascertained though the Collaborative Study of the Genetics of Asthma (CSGA) using a genome-wide array of polymorphic markers. While IgE levels are known to be associated with clinical asthma and recognized to be under strong genetic control (here the heritability was estimated at 44-60% in the three racial groups), specific genes influencing this trait are still largely unknown. Multipoint analysis of 323 markers yielded little indication of specific regions containing a trait locus controlling total serum IgE levels (adjusted for age and gender). Although a number of regions showed LOD statistics above 1.5 in Caucasian families (chromosome 4) and in African-American families (chromosomes 2 and 4), none yielded consistent evidence in all three racial groups. Analysis of total IgE adjusted for gender, age and Allergy Index (a quantitative score of skin test sensitivity to 14 common aeroallergens) was conducted on these data. In this analysis, a much stronger signal for a trait locus controlling adjusted log[total IgE] was seen on the telomeric end of chromosome 18, but only in Caucasian families. This region accounted for most of the genetic variation in log[total IgE], and may represent a quantitative trait locus for IgE levels independent of atopic response. Oligogenic analysis accounting simultaneously for the contribution of this locus on chromosome 18 and other chromosomal regions showing some evidence of linkage in these Caucasian families (on chromosomes 2, 4 and 20) failed to yield significant evidence for interaction.

An immunogenetic view of delayed type hypersensitivity

This review, the third in the series on cellular immune reactivity to tubercle bacilli in the centenary year of Koch's classical paper describing this phenomenon and its possible implications, represents an immunogenetic point of view. In fact this will be quite a broad point of view by an immunogeneticist who is not hampered by specific knowledge on therapy or prevention of tuberculosis. In this respect I probably do not differ very much from Robert Koch 100 years ago! An important difference, however, is that we think we now understand a great deal of the cellular and molecular basis of the immunological phenomena observed by Koch. Immunogenetics has contributed considerably to our current understanding and I will try to review that contribution here. Because thus far my main research interest has been in another mycobacterium, namely Mycobacterium leprae, I will use M. leprae and leprosy as an example to illustrate some ideas. The message of this review is that there is a reason for optimism: the knowledge recently gained by cellular and molecular immunologists as well as immunogeneticists has straightforward implications for the rational development of subunit vaccines and immunotherapeutic strategies.

Immediate hypersensitivity to Parthenium hysterophorus. I. Association of HLA antigens and Parthenium rhinitis

Lymphocytes collected from rhinitis subjects with strong positive skin reactions to the pollen allergens of Parthenium hysterophorus (American feverfew) having moderate to high titres of Parthenium-specific serum IgE were analysed for association of HLA-antigens covering 13 specificities of HLA-A, 17 specificities of HLA-B and eight specificities of HLA-DR loci by the NIH two-stage microlymphocytotoxicity assay. Comparison of the phenotypic frequencies of HLA-A and B antigens between Parthenium rhinitis subjects (n = 22) and control subjects (n = 137) did not suggest any significant association when tested for these antigen specificities. A significant correlation in the association of HLA-DR3 antigen with a relative risk of 11.33, however, was observed in Parthenium rhinitis subjects (n = 30) when compared to controls (n = 50).

Strain difference and mode of inheritance of the susceptibility to passive cutaneous anaphylaxis mediated by allogeneic IgE antibody in the mouse

The strain difference and mode of inheritance of the susceptibility to PCA (passive cutaneous anaphylaxis) were studied in mice. No marked strain differences were found in the susceptibility to PCA mediated by allogeneic IgG1 monoclonal and xenogeneic IgG antibodies, although BALB/c Crj mice were somewhat less susceptible than the other strains. On the other hand, the susceptibility to PCA mediated by allogeneic IgE monoclonal antibodies differed greatly according to the strain; SJL/J, A.SW/J and DS/Shi mice being highly susceptible and C57BL/6JShi, BALB/cCrj, DBA/2Crj, C3H/HeShi and CBA/JNCrj mice insusceptible. Based on the marked difference between DS/Shi and C3H/HeShi strains, the mode of inheritance of the susceptibility to IgE PCA was studied using their F1, F2 and F1 x parent backcross offspring. All the F1 hybrids by reciprocal crosses between these two strains and F1 x DS backcross mice were highly susceptible like DS/Shi mice. Backcross mice between F1 and C3H/HeShi showed approximately 1:1 segregation into the susceptible and insusceptible. Segregation was also observed in the F2 generation; 32% being insusceptible. These results suggest that the high susceptibility is a dominant phenotype controlled mainly by a single gene on an autosomal chromosome; this was statistically supported by tests of the segregation ratios obtained. However, in the PCA-positive recipients of F1 x C3H backcross and F2 generations, dye leakage into the skin was tended to be diffuse and less compact than in DS/Shi, F1 and F1 x DS backcross mice. This suggests the presence of some additional genes which modify the expression of the main gene.

Human castor bean allergy and HLA-A, B, C, DR

Our results in 27 castor bean-allergic patients typed for HLA-A, B, C, DR antigens show (although the observed difference did not reach a statistical significance after correction for the number of tested specificities) an increase of A2 cross-reacting group antigens and, on the other hand, of HLA-A29, B39, CW2, B12, DR2, and especially DR5 (48.1% vs. 26.9% - chi 2 = 5.579; uncorrected p: 0.01 less than p less than 0.02), which possibly participate in haplotypic combinations. The facts that the markers of the haplotype segments involved are more frequent in northern European populations (e.g., A3,B7--Scandinavian; A29,B12--English) and that regional haplotypes are decreased (e.g., A11,B35) suggest that the allergics could in some geographical areas be less genetically adapted to their environment. In the same way, the fact that although the global number of assigned HLA antigens was increased, the percentage of only some alleles (among these those belonging to the A2-CREG) was increased suggests not only a recessive model but a diminution of the polymorphism in allergics. This is in agreement with the physiological role of the HLA system, the polymorphism of which, according to the numerous restriction phenomena allowed at the cellular level, represents broad possibilities of adapted immune response in man. In any event, these findings clearly suggest that HLA-DR5 and B39 may be the markers of castor bean allergy in the Mediterranean area, to which are superimposed the HLA alleles linked to the general atopic susceptibility.

Specific IgE antibody responses to ragweed allergens Ra5S and Ra5G associated with distinct HLA-DR beta genes

Previous studies have established that sensitivity (IgE antibody response) to Ra5S, a 5000 mol. wt protein of short ragweed pollen, is significantly associated with host possession of HLA-DR2. The same allele was implicated [Goodfriend et al. (1985) Molec. Immun. 22, 899-906] in sensitivity to Ra5G, a 4400 mol. wt homologue of Ra5S in giant ragweed pollen, based on frequency of co-sensitivity to both proteins. However, data reported here generated in HLA-DR assays of mono-sensitive individuals demonstrate that sensitivity to Ra5S and Ra5G is associated with separate alleles: DR2 and DRw52 respectively. Results consistent with the same sensitivity/DR associations were obtained in immunoabsorption studies with sera from co-sensitive individuals. As HLA-DR2 and DRw52 have identical alpha but different beta chain types (beta 1 and beta 3), it was considered that IgE antibody responses to Ra5S and Ra5G are associated with distinct DR-beta genes.

Ra5G, a homologue of Ra5 in giant ragweed pollen: isolation, HLA-DR-associated activity and amino acid sequence

Recent studies [Marsh et al. (1982) J. exp. Med. 155, 1439-1451; Coulter (1983) M.Sc. thesis, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Coulter et al. (1983) in Genetic and Environmental Factors in Clinical Allergy (Edited by Marsh D.G., Blumenthal M.N. and Santilli J., Jr), University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, MN] have shown a highly significant association between HLA-Dw2/DR2 and host sensitivity to the 5000-D, 4-disulfide bonded protein Ra5S of short ragweed pollen. To extend these findings, we isolated Ra5G, an Ra5S-like protein, from giant ragweed pollen by gel and ion-exchange chromatography. The protein was homogeneous by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (pH 4.3), reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and antigenic assays. Its mol. wt and amino acid composition (including 8 half-cystine residues) were closely similar to Ra5S, but the two proteins had little or no antigenic or allergenic cross-reactivity. In a study of 200 ragweed-sensitive individuals, host sensitivity simultaneously to Ra5G and Ra5S was significantly associated with the DR2 allele. The amino acid sequence of Ra5G was determined and showed close homology with Ra5S. The potential function of a highly homologous decapeptidyl sequence stretch is discussed in relation to Ir gene control of immune response to the 2 proteins.

No demonstrable association between HLA DR4 and in vitro collagen reactivity as determined by the production of leukocyte inhibition factor

Eight HLA DR4 positive and 9 HLA DR4 negative healthy volunteers as well as 2 DR4 positive and 1 DR4 negative patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were compared for leukocyte inhibition factor (LIF) production and lymphocyte proliferation in response to native and denatured collagen types II and I/III. Purified protein derivative (PPD) of tuberculin served as a positive control in the LIF assay and PPD and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) in the lymphocyte proliferation test. No significant difference in responsiveness to collagen was detected between these two HLA groups. The reactivity to collagen was not affected by removal of OKT8+ lymphocytes. The present results are in conflict with earlier reports by Solinger et al. (1981) and Solinger & Stobo (1982). The reason for the discrepancy has not been resolved.

Associations between HLA and immune responses in individuals with chronic schistosomiasis japonica

The association of an HLA specificity with low or high immune responsiveness to Schistosoma japonicum antigen (Sj) was demonstrated among individuals who had previously been exposed to S. japonicum infection. The frequency of HLA-Aw24 specificity among low responders in the IgG antibody response determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was higher than that among high responders. Significant association between HLA-B7 and high responsiveness was observed in the IgE antibody response. The frequency of HLA-Bw52-Dw12 was also found to increase among individuals with higher levels of total serum IgE. These results suggest that antibody responses to Sj are regulated by an immune response (Ir) gene(s) linked to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), although a possibility of the presence of non-MHC-linked Ir genes is not excluded. Serum IgE levels may also be controlled by a gene(s) linked to the MHC.

The structuring of an allergy index based on IgE-mediated skin sensitivity to common environmental allergens

We computed skin-test sensitivity levels in 485 adults puncture-tested with eight standardized, high-quality inhalant allergens tested at single concentrations. In order to quantitate the "average" IgE-mediated skin sensitivity of each subject, we used both nonparametric and parametric statistical methods to generate two "allergy indices" (Allergy Index I and Allergy Index II) based on sensitivity end-point data from the subpopulations of individuals positive to six of the eight allergens. For the 192 skin test-positive subjects, Allergy Index I and Allergy Index II were significantly correlated with each other (rs = 0.98, p less than 0.001) and with the number of positive skin-test reactions (rs congruent to 0.9, p less than 0.001) as well as with log[total serum IgE] (r congruent to 0.4, p less than 0.01). In 102 ragweed-positive subjects, log[specific IgE to ragweed] was significantly correlated with ragweed-specific "ragweed indices I and II" (r congruent to 0.6, p less than 0.01). Furthermore, the average daily symptom scores reported by 14 ragweed-positive subjects during the ragweed pollination season were significantly correlated with ragweed indices I and II (p less than 0.05). We propose the use of Allergy Index II in epidemiologic and genetic studies of allergic phenotypes as well as in clinical decisions for diagnosis and immunotherapeutic intervention.

HLA-Dw2: a genetic marker for human immune response to short ragweed pollen allergen Ra5. I. Response resulting primarily from natural antigenic exposure

Ultra-pure short ragweed pollen allergen Ra5 (5,000 mol wt) was used to investigate the relationship between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type and IgE and IgG antibody (Ab) responses to Ra5 in two groups of Caucasian subjects, totaling 447 people. Using highly sensitive radioimmunoassay procedures to measure serum IgE and IgG Ab, qualitative responses to Ra5 in both groups were found to be strongly associated with HLA-Dw2 (P less than 0.0001). For example, 95% of 38 people with IgE Ab vs. 22% of 139 ragweed-allergic persons having no detectable IgE Ab to Ra5 were Dw2+. Quantitative log [IgE Ab] and log[IgG Ab] responses to Ra5 were highly correlated with Dw2 (P = 10(-5) to 10(-14)) in four separate multiple regression analyses, examining the relationship between HLA type (and other variables) and Ab levels in the two study groups. Further studies showed that the primary association of Ra5 response was with Dw2 rather than DR2 and that various combinations of A3, B7, and Dw2 were less strongly associated than Dw2 alone.

Atopy and HLA antigens in patients with keratoconus

Thirty unrelated Caucasian patients with keratoconus and 30 patients with regular astigmatism which served as a control group were typed for histocompatibility (HLA) antigens. Their serum levels of immunoglobulins were determined and past and present history of atopic disease of their own as well as among their relatives were examined. No association between keratoconus and any specific HLA antigen was noted. Neither was any statistically significant increase of atopic disease in the keratoconus population observed. Nor was any correlation between elevated IgE level and keratoconus found. However, a statistically significant increase of atopic disease among the relatives of the keratoconus group was found. In conclusion, no evidence for HLA association with keratoconus disease was found. The results suggest that there may be a association between keratoconus and atopic disease.

The association of an HLA 'asthma-associated' haplotype and immediate hypersensitivity in familial asthma

Fifty-seven members from ten families in which one parent and at least one child have asthma were studied with dilutional skin tests and RAST to grass pollens after determination of HLA haplotypes. We found no direct evidence for linkage of a hypothetical asthma locus with HLA or for a significant association of asthma with HLA haplotypes. Linkage between the HLA loci and a gene or genes which allow for the expression of clinical asthma could neither be proven nor disproven due to the small sample size. All of the asthmatic children had positive dilutional skin tests and RAST, suggesting that atopic asthma may be genetically controlled by the HLA chromosome (chromosome 6). Nonetheless, determination of the histocompatibility antigens can increase the value of predictive risk analysis for asthma. Such a determination may be important in the early identification of a child born to a family with atopic asthma.

Allergenic activity of fractions of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) pollen. Definition of active components by skin testing, and inhibition RAST

With the combined use of skin tests, RAST and isoelectric focusing, a potency profile of a cocksfoot ((Dactylis glomerata) pollen extract was prepared. It was found that two fractions with pI 4.5 and 6.0 were the most allergenic, had the highest protein concentration and were also the most easily extracted. The importance of converting mean weal sizes into potency units when comparing the allergenicity of pollen fractions is emphasized.

Total and specific IgE (RAST) in atopic twins

Fifty sets of twins (thirty monozygotic [MZ] and twenty dizygotic [DZ], of whom at least one twin had a history of atopy, were investigated by means of skin tests, RAST and IgE determinations. The concordance of atopies for MZ was, with 56.7%, significantly higher as compared with the DZ with 20%. The mean values of the log serum IgE level differences of MZ and DZ sets of twins was not statistically significant but the percentage distribution of the log serum IgE level differences showed a closer correlation of the IgE levels among MZ. The MZ sets do not show a better concordance in the specific reagin production, as measured by RAST or skin tests, than the DZ sets. These findings seemed to indicate that although the tendency of IgE production is genetically determined its specificity is governed mainly by environmental influences.

A genetic-epidemiologic study of human immune responsiveness to allergens in an industrial population: I. Epidemiology of reported allergy and skin-test positivity

Four hundred six subjects, comprising a 10% random sample of all employees, and a sample of "self-reported" allergic employees of a light industrial plant participated in an epidemiologic study of allergy. Puncture skin testing with a wide variety of crude allergens revealed a significantly higher prevalence of IgE-mediated sensitivity in males than females (29% males and 7% females in a random group; 60% males and 30% females in a self-reported allergic group); however, reported prevalence rates for "allergy" and different allergic symptoms were generally not different between males and females. Interestingly, reported asthma was greater in skin-test-positive subjects than in skin-test-negative subjects. We also noted a decrease in skin-test positivity with increasing age in self-reported allergic subjects. This was significant in the case of several crude allergens but not in the case of positivity to at least one allergen. We also found evidence that people born in and who have been resident in "Zone I) (MD, PA, Del, NJ, or DC) for most of their lives exhibit a greater prevalence of skin-test positivity than people who were born in and have lived for much of their lives in the northeastern United States (east of the Mississippi River and to the north of South Carolina) other than in Zone I.

Skin reactivity to purified pollen allergens in highly ragweed-sensitive individuals

Five hundred twenty-five atopic patients were skin tested over a 12-mo period to several crude allergens with a puncture skin-testing technique utilizing a bifurcated needle originally developed for smallpox immunization. Of these, 122 were highly allergic to short ragweed pollen and were subsequently tested with a series of purified grass and ragweed allergens. Data of their reactivity to these allergens is presented, and the phenomenon that each patient has a unique "allergic fingerprint" to purified pollen allergens is shown. The puncture technique showed good correlation with quantitative intradermal skin titration and offered a definite advantage, because many allergens could be rapidly and accurately assayed with good patient compliance.

HLA-A, B and C and HLA-DR antigens in intrinsic and allergic asthma

Some 103 patients with asthma and 100 healthy volunteers have been typed for HLA-A, B and C and HLA-DR antigens. The 103 patients consisted of thirty-three with intrinsic asthma, thirty-four with extrinsic asthma, and thirty-six known to have precipitins to Aspergillus fumigatus. No increase in frequency of any of the A, B, C, or DR antigens was found to be significant after correction for the number of comparisons was made. However certain trends comparable to findings in other immunopathic disorders were noted. For example B12 was increased in the allergic asthmatics (46 vs 29% controls) and it is suggested that B12 is associated with the ability to produce the IgE antibodies. A3/B7/DRw2 (which are in linkage disequilibrium) all show a decreased frequency in intrinsic asthma (24, 12 and 9% vs 32, 26 and 24% respectively in controls). Finally B8 and DRw3, which showed a moderate increase in frequency in all three groups of asthmatics, were found in five of seven patients with low atopy but persisting antibodies to A. fumigatus. Further detailed studies of these asthmatic subgroups is warranted.

Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to fractions of birch pollen extract

IgE and IgG antibodies (ab) and lymphocyte transformation (LT) were studied in untreated and hyposensitized birch pollen allergic subjects and in non-atopic controls using whole extract and fractions obtained by gel filtration of birch pollen extract. All the allergic subjects had positive IgE ab, IgG ab and LT responses to the whole extract. Both the untreated and the hyposensitized subjects had peak IgE ab and LT responses against the allergenic fractions of the extract, while negative responses were obtained in the non-atopic controls. Only hyposensitized subjects had developed high IgG ab responses to the allergenic fractions. Most of the treated and untreated subjects showed IgG ab and LT responses to the high molecular weight fractions with low allergenic activity. Significantly higher IgE ab responses to these fractions were observed in the treated subjects than in the untreated ones, indicating potentiation of IgE ab responses against some antigens during immunotherapy. Some of the allergic subjects also responded to the fractions of low molecular size (mol. wt. 2000-5000) with low allergenic activity. Both IgE ab, IgG ab and LT responses to these fractions were observed.

HLA antigens in geographic tongue

HLA-A,B,C phenotyping was performed on 95 patients with geographic tongue to determine whether there is an increased frequency of any particular allele in this condition. An increased frequency of B15 was found in the patients when compared to normal controls. When the patients were divided into atopic and non-atopic groups there was an increased frequency of B15 and a decreased frequency of B40 in the atopic group compared to the controls. B40 was as decreased in the atopic group when compared to the non-atopic group. When the type I correction factor was applied to the probability values the differences in antigen frequencies in all cases became insignificant.

Histocompatibility antigens in asthma: population and family studies

One hundred and twenty-two patients with intrinsic asthma, extrinsic atopic asthma, or asthma with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis were tissue typed for the HLA A, B, and C loci. No associations were found with any of the clinical groups, or with serum total IgE concentrations. Sixty-eight members of 10 families where more than one member was affected by asthma were studied. The segregation of haplotypes in siblings of the propositi who were or were not affected by asthma did not differ from the predicted segregation, and there were no differences when atopy or serum total IgE were considered. No biologically important association between HLA and asthma has been shown.

Association between immunoglobulin allotypes and immune responses to Haemophilus influenzae and Meningococcus polysaccharides

Serum samples were collected from 20 healthy White and 33 Black infants before and after immunisation with three doses of diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine and with one dose of Haemophilus influenzae type b polyribose phosphate vaccine and meningococcal group A and group C polysaccharide vaccines. Antibodies to these immunogens were measured and sera were allotyped for several Gm, A2m, and Km antigens. A highly significant association was found between the Km(1) allotype and the immune responses (difference between post-immunisation and pre-immunisation antibody levels) to H. influenzae and meningococcus C polysaccharides in the White children.

Possible associations between HLA antigens and the immune responsiveness to attenuated rubella vaccine

We investigated the possible associations between HLA antigens and the antibody response patterns during a clinical trial with a live attenuated rubella vaccine in 172 Japanese schoolgirls. Those vaccine recipients were divided into three groups, 42 low responders, 102 intermediate responders and 28 high responders, according to convalescent-phase hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody titers. High frequencies of HLA--A11 and HLA--B15 in high responders and HLA--Aw24 and HLA--B5 in low responders were found. Among HLA--A antigens HLA--A11 had the highest geometric mean HI antibody titer and HLA--Aw24 had the lowest. Among HLA--B antigens HLA--B15 had the highest and HLA--B5 had the lowest. Strong linkage disequilibrium was found between HLA--A11 and HLA--B15 in high responders and between HLA--Aw24 and HLA--B5 in low responders. These results suggest that there may be a relationship between HLA antigens and specific immune response genes in man as well as in other vertebrates.

Allergenic activity of fractions of cocksfoot (Dacylis glomerata) pollen

A cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) pollen extract has been fractionated by isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gel, the separated components extracted from the gel and assayed by three methods: prick tests in human skin, RAST and PCA tests in monkey skin. Prick testing in human skin showed that subjects responded differently to the separated components, indicating the presence of more than one antigenic determinant, and a profile of antibody activity against each fraction could be constructed. In general, good agreement was observed between RAST profiles and skin test profiles, although some patients who gave positive skin tests lacked circulating IgE and consequently did not give a RAST profile or a monkey PCA. These studies emphasize the current difficulty in attempting to isolate a single pure allergen from cocksfoot which can be used either diagnostically for the detection of pollen allergy, or for the standardization of diagnostic extracts.

Detection of acceptor sites on human lymphocytes for antigen-specific T cell factors

Mouse antigen-specific T cell factors are absorbed by human peripheral blood lymphocytes at acceptor sites. The acceptors are products of HLA-linked genes, which may be human immune response genes.

In vitro immune responsiveness to vaccinia virus and HLA

Because several lines of evidence suggest that HLA products might have an important function in the immune response to infectious agents, we studied the possible relation between immune response to vaccinia virus and HLA phenotype in 79 soldiers who received a primary vaccination. A low in vitro response to vaccinia virus was associated with HLA-Cw3 both in 49 subjects tested three to four weeks after vaccination (P less than 0.001) and in the remaining 30 subjects tested five to 11 weeks after vaccination (P = 0.035). Responses to unrelated antigens and phytohemagglutinin of lymphocytes tested before, three to four weeks and five to 11 weeks after vaccination indicated that this association was specific for vaccinia virus and suggested that differences in immune response to vaccinia were reflected in temporarily altered immune responsiveness to unrelated antigens. Our results indicate that HLA-Cw3 or an HLA product associated with Cw3 is involved in the cellular immune response to vaccinia virus.