o,)
homozygous for the alternate allele (genotype Au/Au) or heterozygotes
)Au
ype
(phenot
(Aul/Au) do not have detectable Australia antigen
ions,
Although Au (1) has not been found in normal United States populat
myeloacute
of
18%
it is relatively common in some forms of leukemia, i.e.,
yet been
genous leukemia, 17% of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. It has not as
States
United
the
of
found in chronic myelogenous leukemia. A consideration
aleukemi
a
is
antigen
data alone, therefore, would suggest that Australia
ing
develop
of
risk
ed
specific antigen and may be associated with an increas
in
30%)
imately
(approx
cy
frequen
leukemia. It has also been found in high
high
a
by
erized
charact
disease
a
e),
patients with Mongolism (Down's syndrom
risk of developing leukemia.(5) During our studies in Cebu, we found that
Australia antigen is significantly more common in patients with lepromatous
leprosy than those with tuberculoid leprosy or non-leprosy individuals from
the same area.
Consideration of all the patient data suggests that a common factor
in the various diseases in which the trait is found is a deficiency of the
immunological system associated in some as yet unexplained manner with the
Since the Rongelap people will be medically
presence of Australia antigen.
examined for many years, it will be of considerable interest to see if there
is a differential susceptibility to disease, particularly leukemia, in respect
to Australia antigen.
In several populations, including Marshall Islanders, a significant
decrease in Australia antigen frequency with age has been detected. This may
be due to selection against individuals with this trait, presumably compensated for by some, at present unknown, selective advantage in respect to one
of the genotypes.
References
1.
Blumberg, B.S., Alter, J.J., and Visnich, S., A "new'’ antigen in leukemia
sera.
J. Am. Med. Assoc., 191: 541-546, February, 1965.
2.
Alter, H.J., and Blumberg, B.S., Studies on a "new" human isoprecipitin
system (Australia antigen). Blood, 27(3): 297-309, 1966.
3.
Melartin, L. and Blumberg, B.S., Production of antibody against "Australia
4.
Blumberg, B.S., Melartin, L., Guinto, R.A., and Werner, B., Family studies
antigen" in rabbits.
Nature, 210:
1340, 1966.
of human serum isoantigen system (Australia antigen).
Genetics,in press,
1966.
Am. J. Human
5.
Blumberg, B.S., An inherited serum isoantigen in leukemia and Down's
6.
Blumberg, B.S. and Melartin, L., Conjectures on inherited susceptibility
to lepromatous leprosy. Intern. J. Leprosy, 34(1): 60-64, 1966.
syndrome.
J. Clin. Invest., 45: 988, 1966.