GENETIC CONTROL OF THE IMMUNE RESPONSE TO HAEMOGLOBIN: III. VARIANT Aβ (bm 12) BUT NOT Ae (D2.GD) Ia POLYPEPTIDES ALTER IMMUNE RESPONSIVENESS TOWARDS THE α‐SUBUNIT OF HUMAN HAEMOGLOBIN

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Abstract
SUMMARY: Mice bearing the I‐A subregion mutation bm12 were immunized and challenged with the α‐subunit of human adult haemoglobin. Under conditions in which parental B6/Kh mice respond, B6.C‐H‐2bm12 mice are inhibited nearly 100% in their ability to respond to challenge to the α‐chain of haemoglobin. D2.GD mice which express a variant Ae (Eβ) polypeptide of the I‐E subregion can respond as well as B10.D2 mice to both subunits (α‐ and β‐) of haemoglobin. These observations as well as other genetic mapping data confirm the I‐A mapping of α‐chain‐specific Ir genes and extend the genetic fine mapping to the Aβ gene within the I‐A subregion or a combinatorial Ia determinant generated by an interaction of Aα and Aβ. In addition they implicate the Ia.8 specificity in determining immune responsiveness to α‐chain determinants.