Correlation between G2m(n) immunoglobulin allotype and human antibody response and susceptibility to polysaccharide encapsulated bacteria.

To determine whether genetic factors influence the human antibody response to polysaccharides, we correlated Ig allotypes with the concentrations of antibody to 14 bacterial capsular antigens in 130 actively immunized Caucasian adults. The 88 individuals possessing G2m(n), an allotype antigen of IgG2 subclass heavy chains, had significantly higher postimmunization antibody levels to Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and 8 of 11 pneumococcal types (P less than 0.05) than the 42 lacking this antigen. For Hib, pneumococcus type 14, and meningococcus group C, an increased response was observed in IgG class but not in IgM or IgA classes of antibody. The G2m(n) positive individuals also had higher preimmunization antibody levels to most polysaccharide antigens. Total IgG2 concentrations were correlated with the mean postimmunization antibody concentrations to pneumococci (P = 0.005), but this correlation was independent of G2m(n) by multiple regression analysis. To determine if the lack of G2m(n) was associated with increased susceptibility to infection, we compared the frequencies of various Ig allotypes in 98 children infected with Hib and 98 matched controls. Caucasian children with Hib infections other than epiglottitis were significantly more likely to lack the G2m(n) allotype than controls (P less than 0.05). G2m(n) negative Caucasian children less than or equal to 18 mo old have a 5.1-fold higher risk of nonepiglottitic Hib infections than G2m(n) positive children (P less than 0.01). We conclude that allotypic variants of the gamma-2 heavy chain genes, or genes in linkage equilibrium with them, exert a regulatory influence on the caucasian antibody response to a variety of immunologically distinct bacterial polysaccharide antigens. Young Caucasian children of the low responder phenotype, i.e., those lacking the G2m(n) allotype, are genetically predisposed to Hib and perhaps other bacterial infections.