VK-IIIB EXPRESSION IS ALTERED IN ACQUIRED AND DRUG-INDUCED HYPOGAMMAGLOBULINEMIA

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  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 53  (4) , 779-782
Abstract
The .kappa. chain variable region subgroup restriction of Ig from patients with acquired hypogammaglobulinemia, agammaglobulinemia and drug-induced immunosuppression was studied. The percent of .kappa. chain-containing Ig which expresses the V.kappa.IIIb variable region sub-subgroup was determined with a previously characterized murine monoclonal anti-V.kappa.IIIb antibody. The V.kappa.IIIb sub-subgroup percent was increased in sera from patients with idiopathic hypogammaglobulinemia and patients who became hypogammaglobulinemic following immunosuppression. The implications of the results to the regulation of the human immune and autoimmune response are discussed.