Correlation of the Km(1) immunoglobulin allotype with anti-polysaccharide antibodies in Caucasian adults.

Km allotype antigens are serologic markers expressed on kappa light chains of human immunoglobulins. To determine whether th Km phenotype of an individual is related to his ability to make antibodies to polysaccharide antigens, we correlated the Km allotypes of 129 healthy caucasian adults with the concentrations of specific antibodies to three bacterial polysaccharide antigens after immunization. The 14 individuals expressing the Km(1) allotype had lower concentrations of IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and total antibody by radioimmunoassay to Haemophilus influenzae type b and Neisseria meningitidis group C capsular polysaccharides when compared with the 115 Km(1) negative individuals. The Km-associated differences in H. influenzae type b and N. meningitidis group C antibody concentrations were confined to kappa light chain-containing antibody (P = 0.029 and 0.003, respectively). Similarly, the Km(1) positives had slightly lower kappa chain-containing Ig than the Km(1) negatives (P = 0.079). We conclude that genes in or near the kappa light chain locus play a role in the regulation of kappa-containing antibody production to some bacterial polysaccharides and perhaps to other antigens.

Decreased protective efficacy of reduced and alkylated human immune serum globulin in experimental infection with Haemophilus influenzae type b.

Conventionally prepared immune serum globulin frequently produces severe side effects when administered intravenously. A modified preparation in which 4 to 5 interchain disulfide bonds have been reduced and alkylated has been made for intravenous use. However, reduction and alkylation may affect Fc-mediated functions of immunoglobulin G, particularly its ability to fix complement by the classical pathway. To determine whether reduction and alkylation alters the protective activity of immune serum globulin in vivo we compared it with two less harshly prepared globulins (pH 4 treated or ultrafiltered) in an infant rat model of Haemophilus influenzae b infection. Antibody binding to the capsular and noncapsular components of H. influenzae b and in vitro bactericidal activity were similar in the globulin preparations. Infant rats were treated with various doses of globulins adjusted to provide identical concentrations of anticapsular antibodies as measured by the Farr radioactive antigen binding assay. At high doses of anticapsular antibody (greater than 1,500 ng per pup), all preparations protected well. At marginal doses (750 ng per pup), however, rats given reduced and alkylated globulin had a significantly greater incidence of bacteremia (P less than 0.05), meningitis (P less than 0.01), and death (P less than 0.05) and a higher magnitude of bacteremia (P less than 0.02) than rats who received pH4-treated or ultrafiltered globulins. These differences were not due to differences in anticapsular antibody concentrations achieved in the serum. The 50% protective serum concentrations of anticapsular antibody in this model were 200 to 300 ng/ml for reduced and alkylated globulin and 100 to 200 ng/ml for acid-treated globulin. Absorption of the globulins with purified H. influenzae b capsule reduced in vitro bactericidal activity and rat protective activity. However, the magnitude of bacteremia was lower in rats receiving absorbed pH 4-treated globulin than in those receiving absorbed reduced and alkylated globulin (P less than 0.05). We conclude that reduced and alkylated immunoglobulin G provides significantly less protective activity against H. influenzae b infection in this model than globulins not so modified, and we suggest that the altered Fc function of the immunoglobulin G, such as the decreased ability to fix complement by the classical pathway or decreased Fc-mediated opsonization, may be responsible for this impairment.