The major histocombatibility complex and genetic control of antibody response to synthetic antigens in chickens

Abstract

The genetic association of the B-F/B-L region of the chicken major histocompatibility complex (MHC) with the antibody responses to the hapten 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) conjugated to human gamma globulin and to the synthetic antigens, GAT and (T,G)-A-L were investigated using five inbred lines of White Leghorn chickens. Two of the five inbred lines of chickens J1 and M1, were found to be high responders to DNP and (T,G)-A-L, whilst L1, M4 and N1 chickens were found to be relatively low responders to both antigens. Chickens from all five inbred lines were low responders to GAT. Matings between the inbred lines. J1, M1 and N(1), showed that the magnitude of the antibody response to (T,G)-A-L in backcross chickens was regulated by a dominant gene or set of genes linked to the MHC. High antibody responsiveness to (T,G)-A-L was inherited as a dominant trait linked to the B113 and the B15 MHC alleles of the J1 and M1 inbred lines respectively. The similarity of the anti-(T,G)-A-L responses in chickens from the three B113 homozygous inbred lines L1, M4 and N1, also suggests that control of this response was linked to the MHC. The magnitude of the antibody response to DNP in backcross chickens from matings between the inbred lines N1 and J1 or M1 was also found to be regulated by a gene or set of genes linked to the MHC. Again, high antibody responsiveness to DNP was inherited as a dominant trait linked to the B113 and the B15 MHC alleles of the J1 and M1 inbred lines respectively.