Correlations between the genetic control of natural and oxazolone-induced antibody production.

Nonimmune sera of inbred and H-2 congenic mouse strains contain natural antibodies of the IgM type reacting with 4-(ethoxymethylene)-2-phenyloxazolin-5-one (oxazolone). The genetic regulation of the level of natural and induced antibodies to oxazolone was compared. High natural antibody-producing ability was inherited recessively, while high oxazolone-induced IgM antibody formation was dominant in F1 animals. Studies on nude mice demonstrated that T cells do not affect the natural antibody level, but were required for induced antibody production. Breeding studies and linkage analysis revealed multigenic control and a significant role of allotype-linked genes in both cases. Furthermore, the influence of H-2 linked genes on induced primary IgM antibody production was demonstrated.