STUDIES ON HUMAN ANTIBODIES. II. DISTRIBUTION OF GENETIC FACTORS.

Human antibodies against dextran, teichoic acid, blood group A substance, levan, tetanus toxoid, and nuclei were isolated and analyzed for their content of Gm(a), Gm(b), and Inv(a) gamma-globulin genetic factors. The majority of these antibodies contained all the genetic factors determined in the donor's whole gamma-globulin, but in many antibodies at very different concentrations. In a few instances specific factors could not be detected despite their presence in the individual's whole gamma-globulin. Different antibodies isolated from the serum of the same individual showed different relative concentrations of genetic factors. The distribution of genetic factors seen in certain isolated human antibodies appeared to approach the selective occurrence of these factors in myeloma proteins.