HLA-DR4-associated nonresponsiveness to mountain-cedar allergen

We did human lymphocyte antigen (HLA)-DR and DQ typing on 37 subjects with mountain-cedar (MC) pollinosis as defined by history and a positive skin test. Of these 37 subjects, 31 were subdivided into 18 subjects with a single positive skin test (SPST) and 13 subjects with multiple positive skin tests (MPSTs). We also typed 51 subjects without MC sensitivity or atopy as defined by history and negative skin tests to a battery of aeroallergens. We also typed 116 subjects in whom MC sensitivity had not been determined. Total IgE, Mc-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE), and MC-sIgE binding bands by immunoblot were also determined on the subjects with SPSTs and MPSTs. No significant differences were found between the subjects with SPSTs and MPSTs for HLA type, total IgE, MC sIgE, or bands bound by MC sIgE by immunoblot. There was a strong negative relationship between HLA-DR4 and subjects with MC pollinosis; chi-square, 14.857; p = 0.0096; and odds ratio, 0.139. These findings suggest that there is no difference in genetic immunoregulation between subjects with SPSTs and MPSTs but that the presence of the DR4 gene product is associated with a decreased risk of an IgE response to MC and protection from MC pollenosis.