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Allotype Preference in Human Rh Antibodies

Division of Human Genetics, Department of Medicine, Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York 10021

Abstract

Gm(a) and Gm(f) genetic factors of human IgG1 heavy chains were quantitatively determined in Rh eluates isolated by the digitonin elution method. Thirteen Rh preparations from heterozygous subjects Gm(a+f+) showed a ratio of allotypes differing sharply, in many cases, from the individuals' own serum. Six eluates had twofold or greater differences in Gm allotype values; in five of these six, Gm(a) was the predominant genetic antigen.

Subpopulations of Rh antibody presumably selected for binding avidity were prepared by reacting progressively larger volumes of Rh sera with a fixed number of erythrocytes. Serial eluates prepared from single Rh sera showed stepwise changes in the proportions of Gm antigens. The most frequent pattern noted was an increase in Gm(a) concentration while Gm(f) remained stable.

The data indicated that Rh antibodies frequently showed allotype predominance with Gm(a) occupying a preferential but not exclusive position in Rh antibody bound to red cells under conditions of antibody excess. The results were interpreted as supporting an association between certain variable region genes determining Rh antibody and the Gm^a gene determining the constant region of IgG1 chains.

Footnotes

¹ Supported by United States Public Health Service Grant AI-09239 and United States Public Health Service Career Development Award AM-20122.