Immune abnormalities associated with HLA-B8: lymphocyte subsets and functional correlates

Mononuclear cell populations were enumerated in healthy young adults with or without the histocompatibility antigen HLA-B8. Mononuclear cell counts were lower in subjects with HLA-B8, as was reflected in lower absolute numbers of the cell subsets. When cell populations were compared as percentages of total mononuclear cells, subjects with HLA-B8 had significantly more B lymphocytes bearing IgM than did subjects without HLA-B8. The T4/T8 ratio was significantly increased in subjects with HLA-B8. due both to increases in OKT4+ cells and to decrease in OKT8+ cells. B-Lymphocyte function was compared in subjects with and without HLA-B8 by measuring pokeweed mitogen driven differentiation of B cells to IgM bearing blasts, and was significantly greater in subjects with HLA-B8. Subjects with HLA-B8. Subjects with HLA-B8 were also found to have decreased Con A-induced suppression. Alterations in lymphocyte subsets and lymphocyte functions may underlie the predisposition to autoimmunity associated with HLA-B8.