Inheritance of the Ag(x), Ag(y), (a1) and Ag(z) Antigens

Summary. The serum low-density lipoprotein antigens Ag(a₁), Ag(x), Ag(z) were shown, by tests on 75 German families, to be inherited as autosomal dominants and to belong to one serum-group system. Seventeen double back cross matings showed no recombinations in 31 possible situations, confirming that very closely linked loci, or a single genetic locus, are involved in their inheritance.     

Application of the Ag (x) Antigen in Medico-Legal Investigations

Summary. Data are presented showing that the Ag (x) antigen may be a useful marker in genetic studies with particular reference to its application in paternity cases, where it gives a theoretical exclusion rate of 8.14% for the Swedish population.
So far 906 families with 2491 children have been typed for Ag (x) of which 294 families with 815 children are 'critical'. The only three exceptions to the postulated mode of inheritance where no exceptions in other systems also occurred were found in one and the same family material comprising only 17 'critical' families with 55 children.
An additional advantage of the Ag (x) antigen as a marker in paternity cases is that this antigen appears well-developed already at birth and does not seem to be passively transferred from the mother to her child. No association was found between the Ag (xy) system and the ABO-, MN-, Rh-, Hp-, Gc- and Gm (Gm^a and Gm^x) systems.     

Contribution to the Inheritance of the Ag Groups A Population Genetic Study

Abstract. 86 sera from a Tibetan and 100 sera from a Senegalese population were typed for the factors Ag(a₁), Ag(c), Ag(d), Ag(g), Ag(h), Ag(t), Ag(x), Ag(y), and Ag(z). The data are compared with results obtained from 362 sera of Swiss blood donors. The antithetical behaviour of the factors Ag(a₁)–Ag(d), Ag(c)–Ag(g), Ag(x)–Ag(y), and Ag(t)–Ag(z) could be confirmed on the basis of a Hardy-Weinberg analysis using the Tibetan and the Senegalese material. A total of 46 different Ag phenotypes was observed in the complete material. The new data were used for the evaluation of previously proposed genetic models for the Ag system. A revised model for the Ag chromosome is presented, assuming 5 closely linked loci, namely Ag^x/Ag^y, Ag^a₁/Ag^d, Ag^c/Ag^g, Ag^t/Ag^z, and Ag^h/Ag[ⁱ]. The existence of at least 14 different haplotypes could be established, whereby some of them were observed exclusively in 1 of the 3 populations studied.     

Ag(i): Detection of an Antithetical Factor to Ag(h)

Abstract. A trispeciflc anti-Ag serum (M. H.) was found to reveal a new Ag factor: Ag(i). Ag(i) occurs in 98.3% of the white population and is antithetical to Ag(h). The results of Ag(i) typing in Swiss, Tibetans and Senegalese are amalgamated with previously obtained genetic data. Different models for the Ag chromosome are discussed.     

Unusual Inheritance of ABO Group in a Family with Weak B Antigens

The authors present the results of serological investigations of a family in which A₂B individuals have an atypical B antigen and anti-B antibodies in their serum. The B antigen is weaker than normal, but is easily detectable in routine blood grouping. The group is inheritable, and in two generations the A₂B individuals have a group O parent.

Résumé

Les auteurs présentent les résultats de recherches sérologiques chez une famille où des individus A₂B ont un antigène B atypique et des anticorps anti-B dans leur sérum. L'antigène B est plus faible que la normale, mais il est aisément mis en évidence lors de déterminations habituelles de groupes sanguins. Le groupe est héréditaire et, dans deux générations, les individus A₂B ont un des parents de groupe O.

Zusammenfassung

Die Autoren berichten über die Ergebnisse serologischer Untersuchungen in einer Familie, in welcher die A₂B-Individuen ein atypisches B-Antigen sowie Anti-B-Antikürper aufweisen. Das B-Antigen ist nur schwach ausgeprägt, jedoch bei Routine-Blutgruppenbestimmungen ohne Schwierigkeit nachweisbar. Die B-Ano-malie ist vererbt. Außerdem haben in zwei Generationen die A₂B-Individuen einen Elternteil mit der Blutgruppe O.     

Evidence that the Low-Incidence Antigens Termed Wu(700.13) and Hov(700.38) Are Identical

Concordance of reactions of Wu+ and 'Hov'+ cells with 153 sera containing multiple specificities to low-incidence antigens indicates that the 'two' antigens are identical. This conclusion is confirmed by absorption and elution studies.     

Histocompatibility Antigens (HLA): Associations with Immunopathic Diseases and with Responses to Microbial Antigens*

Described is the experience from a single histocompatibility typing laboratory sampling, firstly, Australian patients with various immunopathic diseases and, secondly, subjects previously classified as “responders” or “non-responders” to various microbial antigens. The diseases considered included chronic active hepatitis (CAH) and various cirrhoses, “thyrogastric” autoimmune diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) with intestinal villous atrophy, and multiple sclerosis (MS). The immune responses considered included those to flagellin, candidin, mumps, trichophyton, tuberculin and streptococcal enzymes. The HLA specificities particularly associated with disease included B8 (CAH, thyrotoxicosis, SLE, DH, and miscellaneous immunopathic diseases) and B7 (thyrotoxicosis, SLE, DH, and MS). The same specificities were present in excess, although not impressively so, among responders to certain of the microbial antigens, i.e. B7 with high responders to flagellin and B8 (and A1) with responders to trichophyton.     

Confirmation of the Existence of Human Serum Leukaemia-Associated Antigens (LAA)

We have obtained antisera from rabbits which react with serum from several leukaemia patients after absorption with normal human serum. The specificities of these rabbit antisera have been shown to be closely related to those of the original anti-LAA antisera of Viza et al (1970) and Harris et al (1971). Thus, the existence of leukaemia associated (but probably not leukaemia specific) serum antigen in man has been confirmed. One of the animals was immunized with normal amniotic fluid obtained at 15–16 weeks of gestation. Thus, LAA seems to be a normal constituent of amniotic fluid. This suggests that LAA is another onco-fetal component.     

Influence of Ggamma-158C --> and beta- (AT)x(T)y globin gene polymorphisms on HbF levels in Italian beta-thalassemia carriers and wild-type subjects

Clinical manifestations of beta-thalassemia (beta-thal) intermedia phenotypes are influenced by the persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and by several polymorphisms located in the promoters of A- and beta-globin genes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of the -158Ggamma (C-->T) polymorphism and of the (AT)x(T)y configuration, as well as their eventual association with elevated levels of HbF in 188 beta-thal carriers and 229 wild-type individuals of Italian descent. The -158GgammaT and the (AT)9(T)5alleles were found to be associated with increased levels of HbF in beta-thal carriers, but not in wild-type subjects.     

Gm(x) in Negroes

Summary. 37 Out of 1008 Surinam Negroes were Gm(x +). 17 Out of 34 Gm(x+) Surinam Negroes proved to be Gm(g—).
The Gm chromosomes, that determine Gm(x) in the Gm(x + g—) Negroes are not of Caucasian or Mongoloid origin, since in the Caucasian and Mongoloid populations so far studied Gm(x) was virtually always coupled with Gm(g).
Consideration of the complete Gm(a), (x), (f), (g), (b⁰), (b¹), (b³), (b⁴), (b⁵), (c³), (c⁵), (s) and (t) phenotypes of the Gm(x + g—) Negroes suggested that Gm(x) was coupled with some or all of the Gm(b) determinants instead of with Gm(g).     

Specificity analysis of blood group Lewis-y (Le(y)) antibodies generatedagainst synthetic and natural Le(y) determinants.

Le(y)-reactive monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were generated in mice by immunization with synthetic Le(y) neoglycoproteins or with Le(y)-expressing cells. Serological analysis indicated that mAbs raised against synthetic Le(y) (i) reacted strongly with synthetic Le(y) but poorly with natural Le(y), (ii) cross-reacted with Le(x) or H-type 2 structures, and (iii) were IgG1, IgG2a, or IgG2b. mAbs raised against Le(y)-expressing cells (i) reacted with both synthetic Le(y) and natural Le(y), (ii) were of two types: cross-reactive with Le(x) or H-type 2 structures or specific for Le(y), and (iii) were IgM or IgG3. One of the mAbs raised against natural Le(y), mAb 3S193 (IgG3), showed high specificity for Le(y) in ELISA tests with synthetic Le(y) and Le(y) containing glycoproteins and glycolipids; it also reacted strongly in rosetting assays and cytotoxic tests with Le(y)-expressing cells. mAb 3S193 did not lyse O, A, AB, and B human erythrocytes in the presence of human complement. In flow cytometry, there was weak reactivity with granulocytes, a reactivity also observed with two previously described highly specific Le(y) mouse mAbs--BR55-2 (IgG3) and B3 (IgG1). A humanized version of mAb 3S193 has been constructed, and the specificity pattern and reactivity for Le(y) remain very similar to mouse mAb 3S193.     

Serological Crossreactivity Between H-Y (Male) Antigens of Mouse and Man

Antisera to H-Y (male-specific) antigen were prepared by immunizing female mice with spleen cells from males of the same inbred strain. These antisera were used in mixed hemadsorption and cytotoxicity tests with cells of rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, and humans. The results showed that the H-Y components of all four species are antigenically related to H-Y of the mouse.