MHC class II (I-A) region control of the IgE antibody repertoire to the ABA-1 allergen of the nematode Ascaris |
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Authors: | M W Kennedy E M Fraser J F Christie |
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Affiliation: | Wellcome Laboratories for Experimental Parasitology, University of Glasgow, U.K. |
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Abstract: | ABA-1 is an approximately 14,000 molecular weight (MW) allergen which is among the most abundant proteins synthesized by the nematode parasite Ascaris. IgG and IgE responses to it are major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted in rodents and have only been found to occur in rats of the RT1u haplotype and mice of the H-2s haplotype. Humans infected with the parasite vary substantially in their immune response to the allergen, but the genetic basis for this unknown. H-2 recombinant mice were used to identify the region within the MHC controlling antibody responses to the allergen. IgG antibody to immunoaffinity purified ABA-1 was assayed by radio-immunoassay and IgE by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. This showed that the restriction element is the I-A molecule and that there was some evidence for I-E modulation of the level of response. |
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