Contact sensitivity to mercuric chloride is associated with I-A region in mice.

Genetic control of contact sensitivity to mercuric chloride antigen was studied using various strains on inbred mice. Mice with class II Ab,d,f,s haplotypes showed a high magnitude of response, whereas those with class II Ak,q were low responders. These results indicate that mercuric chloride contact sensitivity may be influenced by the I-A region of H-2. Transfer experiments revealed that these responses might be mediated by L3T4+, Lyt-2- T cells. However Lyt-2+ T cells do not suppress the DTH response.