Polymorphism of properdin factor B in Japanese. Description of a rare variant and data of association with HLA and C2.

Polymorphism of the properdin factor B (BF) was investigated using an agarose gel immunofixation electrophoresis in 487 unrelated healthy adult Japanese who were already typed for HLA-A, -B, -C and C2. Besides the previously reported phenotypes in Japanese (S, FS, and F), a rare heterozygous phenotype (tentatively maned FTS) was observed once. The estimated allele frequencies for BSS, BFF, and FBFT (F Tokyo) were 0.801, 0.198, and 0,001 respectively. The relative electrophoretic mobility of the variant band of type FTS was measured by Dr. G Mauff to be F 0.75. The conversion fragment Bb of the type showed a double-banded pattern. BF hemolytic activity of the FTS individual was at the same level as other phenotypes. Statistical tests for the phenotypic data of BF with HLA-A, -B, -C, and C2 indicated the presence of the following significant associations in Japanese: Aw33-BFF, A11-BFS, Aw24-BFS, B15-BFF, B17-BFF, Bw44-BFF, B7-BFS, Bw52;-BFS, BW54-BFS, BW59-BFS, Cw3-BFF, C2AT-BFF, and C2A'-BFF.