Soluble immune complex disease associated with antigen heterogeneity an HLA related disorder.

It is suggested that soluble immune complex diseases arising after infections may result from the liberation of partially synthesized bacterial polypeptide or viral nucleic acid antigens. These disrupted antigens will have heterogeneous molecular weights due to antigenic material which is incomplete as a result of premature termination of synthesis. Antigens of this type have been shown to result in significant soluble complex formation in vitro when reacted with antisera from many individuals. Interestingly, this was demonstrated using an antigen which has been instrumental in defining, in the mouse, immune response genes. These genes are known to be linked to genes which code for lymphocyte antigens. If particular immune response genes are linked to HLA types in humans, as is thought to be the case, there may be a large number of soluble immune complex diseases caused by infectious agents which may be HLA type associated.