HLA-linked immune responsiveness to (T,G)-A-L: a family study.

The heredity of the immune response potential to the synthetic polypeptide poly(LTyr,LGlu)-poly(DLAla)-poly(LLys) [(T,G)-A-L] and its possible linkage to the major histocompatibility complex of man were studied in 24 families. Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) obtained from 174 donors belonging to 24 unrelated families were educated to (T,G)-A-L on autologous antigen-pulsed adherent cells. The supernatants obtained from these activated PBL were tested for their antigen-specific helper activity in an in vitro antibody production system. All donors were typed for their HLA haplotypes. The results obtained indicated that the ability to respond to (T,G)-A-L by production of an antigen-specific T cell helper factor is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait linked to the responder HLA haplotype.