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Biomedical subjects

L Buskjaer

Publications and source records attributed to L Buskjaer.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

An international reference typing for Ch and Rg determinants on rare human C4 allotypes.

Red cells, serum and plasma samples of 20 individuals, selected for their C4 allotypes, were distributed from Bonn to five laboratories, for investigation of their Chido (Ch) and Rodgers (Rg) determinants. One anti-Ch (M.H.) and one anti-Rg(Prest.) were distributed, but the individual laboratories also used their own reagents and their own typing methods. There was general agreement in interpretation of the majority of samples. Partial inhibition for Ch and Rg was detected. Two samples gave anomalous results; one sample with C4 A1,3 BQO, QO had Ch determinants on the red cells and in plasma (partial inhibition), and another sample with C4 A3,4 B5, QO apparently lacked Ch determinants on the red cells and in plasma. Heterogeneity of anti-Ch and anti-Rg was suggested in testing red cells, perhaps, reflecting a quantitative effect. This heterogeneity was confirmed by inhibition studies. The capacity of some reagents to detect partial inhibition probably reflects qualitative as well as quantitative differences.

Alleles

Complement studies in splenectomized patients.

Total haemolytic complement activity, C2, C5, total alternative pathway activity, factor B, and C3d were measured in 85 splenectomized patients from 1 month to 32 years after splenectomy. Furthermore the patients were investigated for circulating immune complexes. No major deficiencies of the complement factors were detected. In a few patients a reduced C2 level was caused by genetically determined defects or was due to complement consumption in conjunction with circulating immune complexes. The complement levels were normal in 2 patients who had survived overwhelming infections after splenectomy. C5 was elevated in a major proportion of the patients, and it is suggested that this might be caused by post-splenectomy monocytosis. Circulating immune complexes were found in 20% of all cases, irrespective of the presence of residual splenic tissue. Thus the commonly cited impairment of the complement system after splenectomy does not seem to be substantiated, and the deficient resistance against bacterial infections in splenectomized patients does not seem to include abnormalities of the complement system.

Adolescent

Family studies of complement C4 and HLA in man.

At least 12 different C4 gene products with a three band pattern have been identified after electrophoresis of sera pretreated with neuraminidase. Segregation analysis showed at least 12 different C4 haplotypes (or supergenes), of which five represent a single gene product and seven are duplications each composed of an F and an S gene. The data analyzed with respect to linkage showed one recombinant between the C4 and HLAB loci in 154 meioses giving a map distance of C4 HLAB of 0.6 cM. Another recombinant between the C4 and the HLAD loci was found in 101 meioses giving a map distance of C4 HLAD of 1.0 cM. Linkage disequilibrium was found between at least eight C4 haplotypes and certain alleles at the HLAB as well as the HLAD loci. Examinations of 15 families selected through a proband with HLAA 25, HLAB 18 and C2Q0 showed that in almost all cases a slight variant of the C4 supergene F3S2 followed the haplotype HLAA25 HLAB18 C2Q0. No associations were found between the two duplications of C4F3 C4S2 and C4F3 C4S1 and the loci. These findings may indicate that these C4 haplotypes were the original ones preceding the other C4 haplotypes.

Adult

Studies on the C2-deficiency gene in man.

A one-step haemolytic assay using cellular intermediates was used to determine C2 levels in 50 HLA-A25 and B18 positive blood donors and four families suspected to have the C2-deficiency gene. The method clearly discriminated between homozygous normals and heterozygous deficient individuals, and it was found that approx. 50% of individuals with the haplotype HLA-A25, B18 had low levels of functional C2. In the four families studied, the close linkage of the C2-deficiency gene and the haplotype HLA-A25, B18 was confirmed. Furthermore, the C2-deficiency gene was shown to be a silent or null allele at the structural locus.

Child

Hereditary hemochromatosis. Phenotypic expression of the disease.

Previous studies have shown that hemochromatosis is an inherited, autosomal-recessive disease and that the gene is closely linked to the HLA locus on chromosome 6. We obtained a lod score for linkage of +9.8 for a recombination fraction of 0.0 and a gene frequency of 0.056, the frequency estimated in this population. We studied the phenotypic expression of the disease in 261 members of 10 pedigrees. In heterozygotes over 20 years of age, there was an intermediate increase in transferrin saturation and a limited increase in hepatic iron but no clinical manifestations. In male heterozygotes, the average amount of iron in the liver increased from about 0.2 to 1.3 g. Abnormal homozygotes accumulated iron progressively with time, with men accumulating about 18 g in the liver. All measurements of iron status were increased in abnormal homozygotes. Hemochromatosis is inherited as an autosomal-recessive disease, with partial biochemical expression in heterozygotes.

Adolescent

Genetic studies of complement C4 in man.

A C4 variant found in about 5% of the population is described. The fast-moving part of this variant is governed by an allele (Fx) codominant to F. The Fx allele is in very strong linkage disequilibrium with HLA-B17 as the linkage disequilibrium parameter accounted for nearly 100% of the haplotype frequency of B17,Fx. The strong association is also evidenced by the study of 11 families segregating for the Fx allele. There was no instance of recombination between C4 and HLA in 36 informative meioses.

Adult