[Genetic effect on specific human immune responses to tetanus anatoxin].

Kinetics and family transmission of antigen specific immune responses were investigated before and 7, 30 and 120 days after booster immunization with tetanus toxoid (TT) in 73 individuals from 12 families. The study of TT specific in vitro lymphocyte proliferative response and of TT antibody levels by radioimmunoassay were performed in parallel; the effect of booster immunization was detectable 7 and 30 days later and still 120 days later for antibody response. No influence of the sex of donors was found. Because of the significant influence on the level of responses of the time interval since last immunization, data were correspondingly adjusted for segregation and linkage analysis. Observations at day 30 were compatible with the hypothesis of control by a dominant genetic determinant for high proliferative responses closely linked to the major histocompatibility complex region.