Antisera with Ia specificity selected by lymphocytes from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Cells from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) have been used to screen the sera of pregnant women for antibodies specifc for B lymphocytes. The sera have been divided into groups showing Ig specificity: group I (UK 3) had a positive association with HLA-B8 and DW3, and group II (UK 2) with HLA-B7 and DW2. Groups III, IV and X were independent of each other and of HLA-A, B and C locus antigens. Certain sera with B-cell activity showed specific blocking activity in the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), and this activity was dependent on the Ia sepcificities and DW specificities of cells used in the MLR. Some sera specifically blocked the responding cells, other the stimulating cells.