Abstract
Previous studies by others have suggested that HIB infection above age 18 months and a delayed maturation of the infant's Ab response to HIB-CP may be associated with particular Km allotype antigens of the kappa light chain. To better understand the mechanism of this association, the light chain type distribution of anticapsular Ab induced by HIB-CP immunization and HIB infection was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The light chain of immunization-induced antibody was predominantly of the kappa chain type in 19 of 25 adult sera and almost exclusively kappa chain in 9 of these sera. Kappa chain restriction did not correlate with the pre-immunization light chain type distribution nor the post-immunization antibody level. Restriction persisted up to 30 months after immunization. The convalescent sera of 9 of 10 patients recovering from HIB disease showed kappa chain restriction. In contrast, antibody to tetanus toxoid and the CP of S. pneumoniae type 3 in both groups of sera did not show light chain restriction. This light chain restriction of anticapsular Ab may be a partial explanation of the described association of delayed maturation of immunity to the HIB-CP with particular Km allotype antigens.
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Insel, R., Schuster, S. & Smith, D. 927 RESTRICTED DIVERSITY OF THE LIGHT CHAIN OF HUMAN ANTIBODY (Ab) TO THE CAPSULAR POLYSACCHARIDE (CP) OF HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE TYPE B (HIB). Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 597 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00952
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00952
