Determination of immunoglobulin class of alloantibodies in sera from hypersensitized renal patients.

26 sera from hypersensitized renal patients were analysed for immunoglobulin class of alloantibodies. To assess the participation of IgM and IgG in alloreactivity, sera were treated with dithiothreitol (DTT) or Staphylococcus aureus protein A (SpA), respectively. Treatment with both DTT and SpA was also performed to test the possible contribution of other immunoglobulin classes.

Absorption with K562 erythroblastoma cells as a means for discrimination between auto- and alloantibodies in sera of hypersensitized renal patients.

We applied K562 erythroblastoma cell line as a substitute for autologous lymphocytes in the absorption of autoantibodies from sera of 26 hypersensitized renal patients exhibiting high degree of cytotoxic reactivity with a panel of lymphocytes from unrelated individuals (panel reactivity, PRA). All of analysed sera contained allo-reactivity before absorption. After removal of autoantibodies, 85% of the sera still contained alloantibodies whereas in 15% of the sera no alloreactivity was detectable.

HLA-A, B, C, and DR gene and haplotype frequencies in 600 poles by a maximum likelihood method of gene counting.

A population sample of 600 healthy, unrelated persons was used for estimating HLA-A, B, C and DR antigen, gene and haplotype frequencies. The Polish population is characterized by a high value of HLA-A10, B13, B27, DR1 and DR5 gene frequencies. Strong gametic associations between genes A1 and B8, A3 and B7, as well as between B8 and DR3, and B7 and DR2, typical for many European populations, are also present in the Polish population.

HLA-DR antigens in children with mumps meningitis.

The frequency of HLA-DR antigens was studied in 54 patients with mumps meningitis, and in two control groups. The first control group comprised 333 randomly chosen subjects while the second group was composed of 46 subjects who have passed mumps without meningitis. The DR5 antigen was more frequent in patients than in the second control group with relative risk of 2.

[Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2 sisters].

For the first time in the Polish medical literature an appearance is presented of malignant lymphogranulomatosis and of a non-Hodgkin lymphoma in two sisters. A discussion on the etiology of the condition is presented on the ground of the cytogenic studies and tissue compatibilities antigens as well as of the literature of the subject. Genetic background of the two different diseases in two sisters is stressed.

Association of HLA-DR antigens with the development of cytotoxic antibodies in patients on dialysis.

Association between DR antigens and the occurrence of cytotoxic alloantibodies was studied in 251 patients on dialysis. Patients awaiting their first kidney graft were DR typed, and periodically investigated for the presence of alloantibodies. According to the observed peak panel reactive antibodies (PRA) the patients were divided into 3 groups: A, non-sensitized, B, moderately sensitized, and C, highly sensitized.

Blood transfusions and the development of cytotoxic antibodies in dialyzed patients.

In our work we investigated factors which can influence the alloimmunization and especially the ranges of cytotoxic antibodies that develop in patients on dialysis awaiting their first graft. Up to 15 liters of administered blood the proportion of immunized patients is rather stabile, not exceeding 50%. After further transfusions the percentage of immunized patients is growing rapidly reaching about 85%.

"Lysostrip" experiments with HLA class-II antigens. I. Independent surface mobility of DQ and DR molecules.

We report on results of lysostrip experiments designated to analyse the molecular relations between DQ and DR antigens. The purpose of lysostrip application was to determine whether these antigens can independently be redistributed on B-cell surface by incubation with a specific antibody followed by incubation with F(ab')2 fragments of rabbit antihuman Ig. The obtained results have clearly shown that DQ antigens, and supertypic and narrow DR antigens, move independently, indicating that they are located on separate molecules, supporting the concept of different DQ and DR loci.

"Lysostrip" experiments with HLA class II antigens. II. Incomplete interdependence of surface mobility of supertypic DR and narrow DR specificities.

Utilizing the lysostrip technique we analyzed the relations between the mobility of supertypic HLA-DRw52 and DRw53, and narrow DR specificities. Different types of determinants were found, the one removed only by supertypic anti-DR allosera, the second removed by narrow anti-DR allosera, and the third removed by supertypic anti-DR and narrow anti-DR allosera as well. The results are discussed in terms of intermolecular complexes formed on cell surface by HLA class II antigens.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from HLA-identical siblings following conditioning with busulfan and cyclophosphamide. First results.

In the time period from November 1984 to January 1987 eight allogeneic bone marrow transplantation were performed from HLA-identical siblings. The theoretical chance of success in this group was between 21 and 50%, according to the recent data of the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry, depending on the diagnosis and clinical condition. The average chance was 37.

HLA antigens and the antibody response after vaccination to hepatitis B.

The aim of our work was the search for immunogenetic factors that influence the antibody response to HBs antigen. We analyzed the HLA-A, -B, and -DR antigen frequencies in 19 seropositive to HBs and 28 seronegative to HBs healthy persons finding an elevated frequency of B5 in the seropositive group (p value 0.037).

Association of HLA antigens with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) in children.

HLA-A and -B antigen frequencies were investigated in a group of 46 children with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) and in a control group of 100 healthy children. The diseased group comprised 43 HBsAg positive and 3 HBsAg negative children. From the antigen frequencies relative risks (RR) were calculated according to the method of Woolf.

HLA antigens and susceptibility to myasthenia gravis.

HLA-A, -B, -C and -DR antigen frequencies determined in a group of 73 myasthenia gravis (MG) patients were compared with those of a control group of 205 subjects. The strongest positive association with MG was found antigens B8 and DR3 (relative risks 9.56 and 8.

HLA as an immunogenetic risk factor in juvenile chronic arthritis.

We investigated the frequencies of HLA-A, -B, -C and -DR antigens in diseased and control group with the aim to find immunogenetic factors that influence the pathogenesis and clinical course of juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA). The study was conducted on 73 JCA patients, 24 boys and 49 girls. On the basis of observed HLA antigen frequencies the relative risks (RR) and their statistical significance as well as the attributable risks (delta) were calculated.

MLR-stimulating properties of five homozygous typing cells found in an outbred population.

In the characterization of stimulating properties of five HTC's two features were taken into consideration, the reproducibility of stimulation results and the individual cut-off level at which reactions positive for Dw antigen are separated from negative reactions. The reproducibility was characterized by the number of repetitions necessary to diminish the standard error to 10 DNV. Depending on HTC 2-8 repetitions were found to be necessary.

Genetic regulation of the immune response in man.

Data on the antigen non-specific and antigen specific genetic control of immune response are presented. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of the major histocompatibility complex in the regulation of immune functions.

DR antigens as a guide in the search for Dw homozygous typing cells (HTC).

Advantage has been taken from association between DR and Dw genes in the search for homozygous typing cells (HTC). From population data it was calculated that the probability of Dw homozygosity should be about 10 times higher among persons with one identified DR antigen than in a random population. To prove this assumption cells from 11 persons with one DR antigen were tested in different MLR combinations and 5 from them gave reaction patterns typical for HTC.

Age-related changes in PHA and allogeneic reactivity of human T lymphocytes.

In fifty-four healthy individuals aged from 22 to 53 the response of lymphocytes to PHA stimulation and to stimulation with allogeneic lymphocytes were determined. A linear age-related decrease in reactivity to PHA (r = 0.500, P less than 0.

Subpopulations of human lymphocytes differing in receptors to mouse and sheep red blood cells.

A segregation procedure of human lymphocytes by successive rosetting with mouse and sheep red blood cells, and separation of rosettes by Ficoll Hypaque gradient centrifugation, is described. This method yields four lymphocyte subpopulations: lymphocytes with mouse and sheep receptors (M+E+), with mouse receptor only (M+E-), with sheep receptor only (M-E+), and without any receptors (M-E-). Presence of surface membrane receptors: E, C3, Fc, and DR on the cells in the subpopulations have indicated that M-E+ and M+E+ cells are T cells, M+E- cells are B cells and M-E- cells are nonhomogeneous, consisting of B cells, T cells, monocytes, and granulocytes.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) as stimulating cells in mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC).

The MLC response of normal lymphocytes to different kinds of EBV-transformed LCL was investigated. The response to allogeneic LCL cells remarkably exceeded the response to xenogeneic and autologous LCL cells. Stimulation performed with EBV-transformed and normal cells obtained from the same donors showed a correlation in the reaction levels (Q = 0.

The MLC response of patients with infectious mononucleosis to Epstein-Barr virus-transformed cells.

Lymphocytes of 6 patients with infectious mononucleosis were found to be capable of responding in mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)--transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines and Raji cells, whereas their response to PWM-induced blasts and non-T cells was significantly depressed. This means that despite the suppression of cellular reactivity, observed in infectious mononucleosis, the specific response to EBV-infected cells remains unaffected.

Separation of human B lymphocytes by combined rosetting with mouse and sheep red cells.

A technique for obtaining highly enriched B lymphocyte subpopulation from isolated peripheral blood lymphocytes is described. The method consists in combined use of mouse and sheep red cell rosettes. In the first step of the method, B cells-containing fraction of lymphocytes and papainized mouse red cells form rosettes which are separated by Ficoll-Hypaque gradient centrifugation.

Restricted chimerism of peripheral blood cells after transplantation of allogeneic hemopoietic tissue in rabbits.

Allogeneic bone marrow or spleen cells were transplanted in rabbits treated with a single dose of 110 kmg/g of cyclophosphamide or four doses of 50 mg/kg. Chimerism of peripheral blood cells occurred in about 50% of the recipients, lasting from about the 14th day until 180 days after transplantation. The chimerism was limited to some kinds of cells since dissociation of proliferation of hemopoietic cells and split chimerism of lymphocytes were observed.