Preliminary evidence of genetic control of the immune response to the Thy-1.2 antigen in mice

The primary immune response to the Thy-1.2 antigen was measured by the plaque assay, detecting cells (PFC) producing antibodies lytic for thymocytes carrying this antigen. On the basis of statistically significant differences in response, the inbred strains studied could be classified as low (producing fewer than 10³ PFC/spleen) or high (producing more than 10³ PFC/spleen) responders. The data collected from these inbred strains and segregating generations were consistent with the concept that the primary immune response to the Thy-1.2 antigen is under genetic control. This control appeared to be exerted primarily by alleles at a locus linked to theH-2 complex but involvement of alleles at other loci could not be ruled out. Contrary to the commonly described experimental models, the high responsiveness to the Thy-1.2 antigen in some strain combinations seemed to be a recessive rather than a codominant trait.