Abstract
On the basis of studies in experimental animals and of certain findings in human beings the rate of the synthesis of immunoglobulins is supposed to be under a genetic control. Therefore we found it necessary to study serum immunoglobulin levels in monozygotic and heterozygotic twins. The study group consisted of 22 twin pairs of the same sex. The children were five to ten years of age. All twins lived at home; thus the environment of A and B twin in each twin pair was the same. Of the 22 pairs eight were monozygotic and 14 heterozygotic. The zygosity of twins was determined on the basis of conventional genetic markers. The serum levels of immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, IgM and IgD were measured by the single radial immunodiffusion method of Mancini using the commercially available antisera from Behringwerke. The concentration of IgE was. determined by a radioimmunosorbent technique. The accuracy of the methods was about 10%. The levels of IgA and IgE were more similar between A and B twin in monozygotic than in heterozygotic twins (p<0.05). The IgA level was within the accuracy limit of the method in all of the monozygotic twins. A similar situation in IgE levels was seen in three of the eight monozygotic pairs. The levels of IgG, IgM and IgD were greatly varying between the A and B twins both in monozygotic and heterozygotic pairs. The total intrapair accordance of IgA levels and a clear trend towards a similar finfing of IgE in monozygotic twins clearly indicate that the synthesis of these two antibody classes is under a genetic control.
Log in or create a free account to read this content
Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com
or
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Moilanen, I., Kouvalainen, K. Immunoglobulin Levels in Twins. Pediatr Res 13, 83 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197901000-00081
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197901000-00081
