No abstract

Membrane associated molecules that are probably glycoproteins could be specifically precipitated from NP-40 detergent solubilized extracts of radiolabeled mouse spleen or lymph node cells by antisera produced in congenic strain combinations differing only in the Ir gene region which is linked to the H-2 genes. These Ir region products were designated Lna (lymph node antigen) to conform to previous serological work. Sodium dodecyl sulfate—polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of unreduced specific immune precipitates revealed the presence of a possible dimer form, while reduced samples showed only a single peak equivalent to 30,000 daltons. Thus the Lna molecules are clearly distinct from the H-2D and H-2K molecules, which are about 45,000 daltons. Anti-Lna antibodies of different specificity can be present in a single serum; there were at least two separate antigen molecules present in one haplotype tested.

Serological cross-reactivity between the products of the H-2K and H-2D genes has been demonstrated by a design in which antibody was produced against determinants controlled by one locus (e .g . H-2K(k)), and then tested against the product of the opposite locus (e .g . H-2D(d)). A total of 13 out of 18 such test combinations exhibited H-2K-H-2D cross-reactivity. The presence or absence of cross-reactivity was reciprocal in most cases (i.e. antibody directed against the H-2K(k) gene product reacted with H-2(d) determinants, and antibody directed against the H-2D(d) gene product reacted with H-2K(k) determinants). An Ia-like reaction was detected with one antiserum which implied possible cross-reactivity between the products of two discrete la genes.

We have reviewed the relationship between C4 and its related blood group and discussed the mechanisms whereby a fragment of C4 could become attached to erythrocytes (E). We hypothesize that there is chronic fluid-phase activation of C4 by either Cl to form C4b* or spontaneous cleavage of the thioester to form iC4*. These activated molecules bind to E. Proteolytic degradation of the bound C4b or iC4 would leave a covalently attached fragment of C4 on E and thereby give rise to the Ch and Rg blood group antigens. This system is of further immunopathologie interest since this ‘normal’ activation or turnover of C4 is closely regulated. In patients deficient in regulatory proteins, this spontaneous or normal turnover of C4 and C3 may initiate a pathologic condition.

Lod scores for linkage of the albumin and Gc loci have been calculated for 21 pedigrees in which six different types of albumin variants are segregating. There is no evidence for heterogeneity in the linkage distance among the different types of variants. The most likely value for the recombination fraction in the combined data is at Ô = 0.023.