Cell surface markers and cellular immune response associated with rheumatic heart disease: complex segregation analysis.

A series of functional and cell surface markers associated with a significantly increased risk of rheumatic heart disease were analyzed for the contribution of genetic factors in their presence. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from nine large kindreds from the New Zealand Maori, Polynesian, and Caucasian populations were isolated, purified, and evaluated with lymphocyte surface markers (monoclonals 83S.19.23 and D8103), as well as studied for blastogenic response to a purified group A streptococcal extracellular product, blastogen A. Segregation analysis of blastogenic response and percent of cells positive for these cell surface markers was consistent with genetic control by single major genes; however, the contribution by polygenes varied by marker, indicating heterogeneity of genetic control of identification of cell surface glycoproteins and blastogenic response to streptococcal products.