title: IgG subclasses of pneumococcal antibodies--effect of allotype G2m(n).
abstract: Antibody responses to three pneumococcal polysaccharides (types 3, 14, and 18C) were analysed after vaccination with a 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine. Antibodies to all three polysaccharides could be detected before immunization. Clear cut IgG, IgA, and/or IgM antibody responses to the polysaccharides were seen in three-quarters of the vaccinees. IgG2 was the predominant and IgG1 the second most abundant subclass of anti-pneumococcal IgG antibodies both before and after the vaccination. The relative proportions of IgG2 and IgG1 antibodies exhibited a continuous variation from 1:0 to approximately 0:2. After vaccination, G2m(n)-positive homozygotes had about four times more IgG2 antibodies (anti-14 and anti-18C) than G2m(n)-negative vaccinees. Heterozygotes occupied an intermediate position. The same pattern was seen less clearly in type 3 antibodies after vaccination, and in all three antibodies before vaccination. The G2m(n) allotypes had no detectable effect on the levels of IgG1, IgG4, or IgM antibodies, and possibly a weak effect on IgG3 and IgA antibodies (G2m(n)-positive homozygotes responded strongly).
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sarvas
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rautonen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sipinen
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mäkelä
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D016667:Bacterial Capsules; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D007129:Immunoglobulin Gm Allotypes / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007129:Immunoglobulin Gm Allotypes; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C056696:pneumococcal polysaccharide, type 14; C026604:pneumococcal polysaccharide, type III