Immunoglobulin allotypes and immunoreactivity in chronic liver disease.

The immunoglobulin allotypes Gm (a; x; f) and Km 1 have been estimated in 194 patients with chronic liver disease, and compared with the frequency distribution of a representative reference group (Gm : n = 2171; Km : n = 2179). In relation to the Gm phenotypes we have investigated the cell-mediated immunoreactivity by the E rosette test, lymphocyte transformation test and migration inhibition test. Virus-induced chronic liver disease showed significantly higher prevalence of the phenotypes Gm a+x-f+ and Gm a+x+f+ as well as of the marker Km + 1 (p less than or equal to 5%; chi 2-test). In auto-immune chronic liver disease we observed a decrease in the phenotype Gm a+x-f+ while the factor Km + 1 was significantly multiplied. Patients with cryptogenic and alcoholic hepatopathy showed no differences in comparison with the reference group. In the progressive forms of the chronic liver disease (chronic active hepatitis, liver cirrhosis) Gm a+x+f+ was significantly more frequent. The investigations concerning cell-mediated immunity in different Gm allotypes generally showed a trend to increased reactivity in Gm a+x+ in comparison with Gm a-x- in non-alcoholic liver disease. It is possible to presume different genetic and immunologic situations in the various liver diseases as endogenous factors promoting the disease.

Haptoglobin type and liver disease.

The haptoglobin phenotype has been estimated in patients suffering from chronic liver disease (n = 222) and acute hepatitis (n = 59) in comparison with the haptoglobin pattern of a normal population (n = 1726). The frequency of Hp 1-1 was significantly increased in non-alcoholic chronic liver disease (p = 5%; chi 2-test) in contrast to alcoholic disease. The highest incidence of Hp 1-1 occurred in cryptogenic cases (p = 1%). The follow-up of patients suffering from acute hepatitis failed to indicate any relationship between the haptoglobin phenotype and the course of hepatitis. The results suggest that Hp 1-1 is a genetic marker of special kinds of chronic liver diseases.

[Are hydrophilic areas of polypeptide chains always identical with epitomes? Discussions on the problems related to immunoglobulin allotypes in humans]. / Sind hydrophile Bereiche der Polypeptidketten ausnahmsweise identisch mit Epitopen? Erörterungen zur Problematik anhand von Immunglobulin-Allotypen des Menschen.

Hydrophilic areas of human polypeptide chains are obvious antigenic determinants for the allotypes of the Km-and Gm-system if they are located within special exposed segments of the native molecule. Allotype associated exchanges of amino acids are observed likewise in fewer hydrophilic segments. Even in strongly hydrophilic areas of polypeptide chains, antigenic determinants, characteristic for known iso- and allotypes, have not so far been observed. The prediction of antigenic determinants, exclusively based on the hydrophily of segments of polypeptide chains seems to be doubtful.

[Hemoglobin and hem protein complexes in mammal sera. 1. Starch gel electrophoretic studies]. / Häemoglobin- und Häm-Proteinkomplexe in Säugetierseren. 1. Stärkegelelektrophoretische Untersuchungen

In the sera pig, cattle, rabbit and guinea pig, only uniform Hemoglobin-Haptoglobin fraction but several heme-hemopexin fractions, could be demonstrated for each species in starch gel electrophoretic studies. Heme binding by albumin was also observed, though to a varying degree, being most pronounced for the guinea pig. The protection mechanism against hemoglobin and iron losses from the organism of the animals investigated allows far-reaching parallels with that of man.

The genetic linkage between the PKU locus and the loci for amylase 1, amylase 2, Fy, PGM 1, and Rh and the question of assignment of the PKU locus to chromosome no. 1.

The alpha-amylase loci Amy 1 and Amy 2 and other loci on chromosome 1 were investigated for their linkage relationship to the PKU locus. Ten families were informative for the study of linkage between PKU/Amy, 20 for PKU-Fy, 11 for PKU/PGM 1, and 10 for PKU/Rh linkage. The probabilities of linkage at different recombinant fractions were calculated according to Bayes' theorem. The results are in striking contrast with those of Kamaryt et al. who found strong evidence for close linkage between the amylase loci and the PKU locus, whereas with our results close linkage can be excluded; loose linkage is possible but unlikely. The results are discussed with regard to the genetic heterogeneity of phenylketonuria.

[Haptoglobin typing in abortion in the 1st trimester]. / Haptoglobintypisierung bei Abortus im I. Trimenon.

The type of haptoglobin was examined in 239 women suffering from hemorrhage in early pregnancy. The distribution of Hp-types in the different forms of abortion was compared with a reference group. A provable significant deviation in distribution of Hp-types could be traced in case of incomplete abortion. The immunological lower reaction capacity in haptoglobin type 1-1 has been discussed.

[Genetic studies in etiologically different chronic liver diseases]. / Genetische Untersuchungen bei ätiologisch unterschiedlichen chronischen Leberkrankheiten.

In 198 patients with chronic liver diseases of different etiology 16 genetic feature systems were investigated (blood groups, erythrocytic enzymes, immunoglobulin allotypes, proteins). In comparison to a representative normal population significant differences of the frequency of the distribution of phenotypes of various systems were found. In these cases is remarkable that association between genetic markers and hepatopathies were above all proved in their classification according to etiopathogenetic criteria. We evaluate our findings as a reference to the importance of genetic factors in the development of chronic liver diseases.