Genetic regulation of the immune response to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). II. Qualitative characteristics of the humoral immune response to the a, d, and y determinants of HBsAg.
It was previously demonstrated that the murine humoral immune responses to the common a and subtype-specific d determinants of HBsAg are H-2 restricted. The H-2q haplotype confers high responsiveness and the H-2s haplotype low responsiveness to nonresponsiveness to both determinants. We have now demonstrated that the H-2s haplotype also confers nonresponsiveness to the subtype-specific y determinant as well. Studies of H-2 congenic (nonresponder X responder)F1 and backcross mice indicated that responsiveness was inherited as a dominant trait, with no gene dosage effects observed. Qualitative characteristics of the humoral anti-a and anti-d responses were evaluated with respect to strain variation, kinetics, antigen specificity and antibody titer, affinity, and subclass distribution. Unique immune response patterns were observed for each H-2 haplotype studied. On the basis of these patterns, it was possible to construct a hierarchy of responsiveness to HBsAg of the ad subtype as follows: high responders, H-2q and H-2d; intermediate responders, H-2a greater than H-2b greater than H-2k; and nonresponders, H-2s.
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000915:Antibody Affinity; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006238:Haploidy; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D008805:Mice, Inbred A; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D006183:H-2 Antigens; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens