HLA antigens, phytohemagglutinin stimulation, and corticosteroid response

Although it is clear that the major histocompatibility complex is associated with lymphocyte glucocorticoid sensitivity in mice, there has been less evidence for a similar relationship in man. We have typed 158 individuals for: (1) 13 A locus and 16 B locus antigens, (2) degree of stimulation of their purified lymphocytes by phytohemagglutinin A (PHA), and (3) degree of inhibition of the PHA stimulation by prednisolone and prednisolone-21-hemisuccinate. In contrasts of individuals with a particular antigen (homozygous or heterozygous) with all remaining individuals, HLA-B7 was found to be associated with an enhancing effect on the log stimulation by PHA while other antigens of these series did not have significant associations. In similar contrasts, A10 was associated with a decrease in sensitivity to glucocorticoid inhibition of PHA stimulation as measured by the log I50 of the suppression of PHA stimulation. Other antigens of these series were not found to have significant associations with the glucocorticoid sensitivity of lymphocytes in this assay.