The importance of G1m and 2 allotypes for the IgG2 antibody levels and avidity against pneumococcal polysaccharide type 1 within mono- and dizygotic twin-pairs.

Eighty-two mono- or dizygotic Caucasian twins vaccinated with a 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine, who had previously had their IgG2 antibody levels to pneumococcus type 1 determined before and after vaccination, were included in this study. Their IgG2 antibody levels were related to their G1m and G2m allotypes/phenotypes and their Gm amounts. Eight different Gm phenotypes were found and characteristically IgG2 antibody levels were related to them. G2m (n) homozygotic twins had significantly higher IgG2 levels than heterozygotic twins who had significantly higher levels than G2m (-n) homozygotic twins (P < 0.05). The G1m allotype, on the other hand was without influence on the IgG2 levels and so were the Gm amounts among G2m (n) heterozygotic twins. The IgG2 antibody avidities were not related to Gm allotypes but significantly correlated to IgG2 levels (P = 0.05). Finally, a highly significant intra-pair correlation was found for avidity in the monozygotic twins supporting a genetic regulation of avidity (P < 0.002). These results may explain our earlier findings that IgG2 antibody levels after pneumococcal vaccination are significantly more closely correlated within mono- compared to dizygotic twins.