Presumptive evidence for an immunosuppressor susceptibility gene, linked to HLA, in rheumatic fever.
In a study of rheumatic carditis, 135 members of 21 multiplex families have been investigated, along with 60 normal unrelated control individuals. Circulating T-lymphocytes were reduced (as a percentage of total blood mononuclear cells) in all 'rheumatic' individuals, in 7 of 40 normal parents, and in 8 of 49 normal sibs. An immune response characterized by an increase in the proportion of suppressor T cells occurs in most individuals affected by rheumatic carditis and this change persists for a long time. Genetic analysis revealed three important points: 1. increased HLA haplotype sharing amongst the affected sib-pairs; 2. the possibility of using low circulating T-cell percentage as a marker of susceptibility; 3. presumptive evidence for a recessive susceptibility gene linked to HLA and responsible for the suppressor cell response.
Hafez
M
M
Department of Pediatrics, Mansoura University Faculty of Medicine, Egypt.
el-Shennawy
F
F
el-Ziny
M
M
Abo-el-Hasan
S
S
Khashaba
M
M
D005260:Female; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D005808:Genes, Recessive; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000235:genetics*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
D006680:HLA Antigens