Allotypes genetic linkage

Genetic susceptibility. This plays an important role in almost all autoimmune conditions. The most significant influence is that of the MHC. The linkage between particular MHC class II allotypes and specific diseases has in some cases been determined in almost all cases these diseases have a strong autoimmune component. 

Studies on idiotypes of homogeneous antibodies in rabbit families suggested that idiotypes were genetically transmitted. Further work on the idiotypes of rabbit antibodies showed linkage of group a allotypes to idiotypes The association of an idiotype to an infrequently occurring subgroup has also been demonstrated in these same rabbit families . ... 

Genetic experiments on the idiotypes of the mouse have extended the original observation of idiotypic inheritance. Linkage of idiotypes to Ch allotypes has... 

Not only has linkage been observed, but also associations at the molecule level between the idiotype of a homogeneous streptococcal antibody and the allotypes of the strain in which it was induced. Eichmann showed that idiotypically related antibodies produced in allotypically heterozygous mice always had the same allotype-idiotype combination. This finding indicates that the mouse idiotypes, like rabbit Vh allotypes, are usually synthesized from information present on the same chromosome as the Ch gene with which they are genetically transmitted. The bulk of genetic data obtained in mouse idiotypic studies is consistent with that obtained in studies with Vh allotypes. One of the few cases where unique information has been obtained will be described here. 

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