HLA-D/DR linked immune response to Candida allergen: an in vivo and in vitro study in Japanese.

Immune response to Candida allergen in man was studied using the lymphocyte reaction in vitro and the skin test in vivo. One hundred and ten normal healthy Japanese were typed for HLA-A, B, D and DR. It was found that HLA-B7, Dw1 and DR1 were strongly associated with high responsiveness and Den and Mt2 with low responsiveness. In a family study, the inheritance of high responsiveness was observed. In the reaction patterns of HLA-D homozygote and heterozygote cells, it was found that Dw1/DR1 and Dw12/DR2 were associated with a high responders and that DYT/DR4 and DEn (6.1)/DR- were associated with low responders. It is considered that the Dw1/DRl gene might be more dominant as an immune response; the Ir gene when compared to a gene such as the DYT, and the EDn (6.1) as an immune suppressive; Is gene. A genetic factor can be implicated in the secondary response (but not the primary response) to Candida allergen. Therefore, the existence of HLA-linked Ir and/or Is gene to Candida allergen is discussed.