Genetic control of specific immune responses.

TLDR: A review of the recent important findings concerning "immune response genes" to antigenic determinants of different amino acids can be found in this article, where the authors discuss the genetic control of specific immune responses.

Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the genetic control of specific immune responses. The chapter reviews the recent important findings concerning “immune response genes” to antigenic determinants of different amino acids. The immune response to a specific antigen is a complex process that must involve genetic control at various levels. The fact that genetic factors are involved in the response to antigenic stimulus has long been known. The use of synthetic polypeptide antigens played a major role in elucidating the multiple genes that are described in the chapter. The intriguing question of at what level in the immune response these genes act remain to be determined. Genetic and structural analysis of normal immunoglobulins, myeloma proteins, and antibodies has produced a great deal of information about the genetic basis of antibody structure but has not yet given a clear picture of the genetic basis of antibody specificity. Structural analysis of myeloma proteins has led to a similar conclusion for the human and mouse light chain. The chapter summarizes the characteristic features common to the various genetic systems and analyzes the functions controlled by “immune response genes.”