Serum immunoglobulin levels in human hydatidosis

Serum IgG, IgM, IgA and IgD levels of 83 patients with hepatic or pulmonary hydatidosis and 15 postoperative individuals with no cysts were compared with the mean values of 80 healthy Lebanese controls. A significant increase of IgG was present in all patients. An increase in the mean IgM and IgA levels was significant only in pulmonary cases. There was no significant correlation between the titres of antibodies as detected by haemagglutination and complement-fixation tests and the respective serum IgG and IgM immunoglobin levels. Mean IgD levels were not different between patients and controls. Elevated IgE levels were detected in 77% of 21 hydatid patients. A persistent hyperglobulinemia was observed in postoperative follow-ups.     

Serum and tissure proteins in tuberous sclerosis. II. Immunoglobulin levels.

Serum levels of the four main immunoglobulins, IgA, IgM, IgG and IgD were estimated in a sample of 54 subjects with tuberous sclerosis and the data compared with similar findings in a sample of 100 mentally retarded subjects chosen at random. Normal levels of IgA and IgD were found in the T.S. group, but elevated levels of IgM significant at P equals 0.001 was found in 49 of the 54 cases. A reduction in IgG levels (significant at P equals 0.001) was a much less constant feature being found in 29 of the 54 subjects. The significance of these results in the light of the observation that one of the principal causes of death in T.S. is from recurrent infection is discussed.     

Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in blood and tissue of malignant breast tumor and benign breast disease

Changes in the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitrate and nitrite (as an index of nitric oxide production), lipid hydroperoxide (LOH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), lipids (total cholesterol and triglycerides) and lipoproteins (HDL- and LDL-cholesterol) were estimated in breast cancer patients (n = 15) and benign breast disease (n = 15). Serum and tissue MDA levels were found to be decreased in breast cancer patients compared to the benign group (p < 0.05). In contrast, nitrate and nitrite levels were increased in serum and tissue of the cancer group compared to benign breast disease patients (p < 0.05). Compared to the benign group, tissue TAC levels were elevated in the breast cancer patient group (p < 0.05). Total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were elevated in the benign group compared with cancer patients (p < 0.05). These findings support the hypothesis that lipid peroxidation in serum and tissue of benign breast disease is greater than in breast cancer. However, the enhanced levels of nitric oxide may be in response to inflammation in patients with breast cancer. Total antioxidant status is lower in benign tissue than in cancerous tissue, probably to compensate for this elevated free radical production.     

CEA-containing immune complexes in sera of patients with colorectal and breast cancer — analysis of complexed immunoglobulin classes

Summary A sandwich enzyme immunoassay was developed to detect circulating immune complexes containing carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgA, or IgM using a nitrocellulose-bound anti-CEA antibody as the solid phase reagent. Elevated levels of CEA-containing circulating immune complexes (CEA-IC) were found in 15.4% of 117 sera from patients with colorectal cancer in a postsurgery follow-up study. Also in 24.5% of 102 sera from patients with breast cancer in different states of disease CEA-IC were found. The predominant Ig determined in CEA-IC of colorectal cancer patients was IgA, followed by IgG and IgM, whereas IgG and IgM were the most frequent Igs in CEA-IC of breast cancer patients. Elevated CEA levels were found in 12.0% of the colorectal cancer patients and in 25.4% of sera from breast cancer patients. No significance for the coincidence of elevated CEA levels and CEA-IC was recorded in all patients sera tested. In sera of patients with disease recurrence, however, both parameters were shown to be elevated (CEA 80.7% and CEA-IC 42.3%). The data presented indicate the detection of CEA-IC as an additional parameter for the identification of patients at increased risk for disease recurrence.     

Serum immunoglobulin levels in various forms of meningococcal infection and in meningococcus carriers

The levels of serum IgG, IgA and IgM were examined in 191 adults including 103 patients with various forms of meningococcal infection, 32 meningitis convalescents and 56 carriers, in order to elucidate the causes of different susceptibility to the meningococcal infection. The IgD level was determined in 54 meningitis patients as well as in convalescents and carriers. The amount of immunoglobulins was determined by radial immunodiffusion. The level of IgG at the beginning of the disease in patients with the generalized forms of meningococcal infection (meningitis, meningitis combined with meningococcaemia, meningococcaemia) was found to be considerably lower than in healthy subjects. The levels of all immunoglobulins, particularly of IgA and IgM, increased in the course of the disease. The levels of IgG, IgA and IgM in meningitis convalescents a year after recovery were found to be the same as in the controls. The levels of IgG, IgA and IgM in patients with meningococcal nasopharyngitis were significantly lower than in healthy subjects. The carriers showed a decreasd level of IgA and a considerably increased level of IgG while the levels of IgM and IgD did not differ from the control.     

Serum immunoglobulin levels and tissue antibodies in psoriasis.

Serum samples from psoriatic patients were subjected to quantitation of serum IgA, IgG and IgM levels and screening of tissue autoantibodies including ANA, GPA, MTA and SMA. Serum IgA was found to be significantly elevated and incidences of ANA and GPA were also increased. Their significance and possible mechanism were discussed.     

Anti-IgE autoantibody in patients with atopic dermatitis

The anti-IgE autoantibody in the IgG class was detected in 39/45 (86.7%) patients with atopic dermatitis by using a newly established solid-phase enzyme immunoassay. The epsilon-chain specificity of the anti-IgE autoantibody was confirmed by competitive inhibition by using human IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, IgE, and heat-denatured IgE protein. Significant correlations were observed between the levels of the anti-IgE autoantibody and the serum IgE. Gel filtration studies indicated that the anti-IgE autoantibody in sera from atopic dermatitis was mainly present in the form of an immune complex with self IgE. The role of the IgE-anti-IgE immune complex and the role of the anti-IgE autoantibody in the modulation of the IgE-mediated immune system in atopic dermatitis are discussed.     

Proteomics Investigation of Diverse Serological Patterns in COVID-19

Serum antibodies IgM and IgG are elevated during Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) to defend against viral attacks. Atypical results such as negative and abnormally high antibody expression were frequently observed whereas the underlying molecular mechanisms are elusive. In our cohort of 144 COVID-19 patients, 3.5% were both IgM and IgG negative, whereas 29.2% remained only IgM negative. The remaining patients exhibited positive IgM and IgG expression, with 9.3% of them exhibiting over 20-fold higher titers of IgM than the others at their plateau. IgG titers in all of them were significantly boosted after vaccination in the second year. To investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms, we classed the patients into four groups with diverse serological patterns and analyzed their 2-year clinical indicators. Additionally, we collected 111 serum samples for TMTpro-based longitudinal proteomic profiling and characterized 1494 proteins in total. We found that the continuously negative IgM and IgG expression during COVID-19 were associated with mild inflammatory reactions and high T cell responses. Low levels of serum IgD, inferior complement 1 activation of complement cascades, and insufficient cellular immune responses might collectively lead to compensatory serological responses, causing overexpression of IgM. Serum CD163 was positively correlated with antibody titers during seroconversion. This study suggests that patients with negative serology still developed cellular immunity for viral defense and that high titers of IgM might not be favorable to COVID-19 recovery.     

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA): Studies on the general and specific humoral response

Serum specimens from 138 patients suffering from chronic respiratory disorders including 63 with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), 20 with suspected ABPA, 25 with pulmonary tuberculosis, 14 with bronchial asthma, 10 with chronic bronchitis and 6 with miscellaneous pulmonary conditions were studied for circulating antibodies to Aspergillus. The ammonium sulfate test was employed with an iodine-125 labeled mycelial component derived from Aspergillus fumigatus. When compared to normal controls from the same area, this test indicated that sera from 82 per cent of patients with ABPA had elevated binding titers to the radiolabeled antigenic component. Immunodiffusion using a culture filtrate antigen from A. fumigatus, revealed precipitating antibody to this fungus in 89 per cent of sera from ABPA patients. The majority of patients with ABPA demonstrated marked elevations of total serum IgE, moderate elevations of serum IgA and IgD and slightly increased levels of IgG and IgM.This study was supported in part by Research Grant AI 10940 from the National Institutes of Health and by NHLI Contract N01-HL-3-2942(B), and forms a part of the Ph.D. thesis submitted by Z.U.K. to the University of Delhi.     

Age related patterns of immunoglobulin serum levels in the Quechua Indians of Andean Mountains

Age-dependent changes of IgA, IgG, IgM, and IgD serum levels in a population of Quechua Indians of Peruvian Andes at 4 300 m were investigated. A first increase and a subsequent decrease in IgA and IgM levels were observed with advancing age. IgG and IgD only display an increase during development. More or less pronounced sex-related changes were also found in all Ig classes, the sex dependent pattern of IgA being the more evident one. It has been suggested that sexual, genetic and environmental influences strongly superimpose to high altitude related changes in Ig profile during ageing.     

Changing patterns of serum and bile antibodies in re-infected rats with Clonorchis sinensis

Rats develop strong resistance to re-infection and super-infection by Clonorchis sinensis. The present study investigated the antibodies present in the sera and bile juice of rats that were primary infected and re-infected with C. sinensis. The serum level of specific IgG antibodies, which were elevated 2 wk of the primary infection, peaked at 4 wk and subsequently remained unchanged even during re-infection. The total IgE level in serum increased slowly from 388 ng / ml to 3,426 ng / ml beginning 2 wk after the primary infection, and remained high up to 8 wk but dropped to a normal level (259 ng / ml) after treatment. In resistant re-infected rats, the serum IgE level increased rapidly and peaked within 1 wk, whereas no increase was observed in immunosuppressed rats. The serum level of specific IgA antibodies was elevated beginning 1 wk after infection, and decreased 4 wk after treatment. The total bile IgA level unchanged during the primary infection but increased in treated and re-infected rats. The elevated levels of serum IgE and bile IgA indicate that these immunoglobulins may be correlated with the development of resistance to re-infection by C. sinensis in rats.     

Circulating CA 15.3 levels in breast cancer. Our present experience

CA 15.3 is an antigen expressed by human breast carcinoma cells, and defined by two monoclonal antibodies, 115D8 and DF3. We used IRMA to determine the circulating serum levels of CA 15.3 in 1178 subjects with breast cancer, non-breast malignancies, benign diseases and controls. A threshold level of 40 U/ml was established with 140 healthy controls and 650 patients with benign diseases (respectively 0% subjects and 1.5% patients had abnormal antigen levels). Elevated CA 15.3 was found in 12 of 184 patients with malignancies different from breast cancer (6.5%), either epithelial carcinomas with distant metastases, mainly in the liver, or primary liver tumors. Breast cancer patients (n = 204) were analysed by prior therapy, UICC stage and WHO response to therapy. Eight of 134 (5.9%) patients with stage II or III breast cancer at presentation and no evidence of disease (NED) had elevated CA 15.3. All of 22 patients with stage IV breast cancer not responding to therapy (SD and PD) had antigen levels greater than 40 U/ml, as did 10 of 34 (29.4%) stage IV patients in objective response (CR + PR). Three of 14 pretreatment patients had abnormal marker levels, and they later proved to have distant metastases. Serum CA 15.3 values were statistically different (p less than 0.01) in NED (20.6 +/- 11.2 U/ml), CR + PR (33.5 +/- 24.0 U/ml), stable disease (98.8 +/- 50.4 U/ml) and progressive disease (greater than 200 U/ml) breast cancer patients. Our results suggest that circulating CA 15.3 antigen levels agree with the stage of breast cancer and with the response to therapy.     

Polyclonal activation of the murine immune system by a goat antibody to mouse IgD. IX. Induction of a polyclonal IgE response

The possibility that injection of mice with an affinity-purified goat antibody to mouse IgD (GaM delta) that stimulates polyclonal IgG1 secretion might also stimulate differentiation of B cells into IgE-secreting cells was suggested by the observation that such treatment induces T cells from those mice to secrete a lymphokine, B cell stimulatory factor 1 (BSF-1), that can stimulate both IgG1 and IgE secretion in vitro. Studies described in this paper show that injection of BALB/c mice with 200 to 3200 micrograms of GaM delta greatly increased the quantity of splenic epsilon chain-encoding mRNA, the number of spleen cells with cytoplasmic IgE, and the concentration of serum IgE 7 days after injection. Serum IgE levels obtained in these mice were approximately 100 times baseline levels and were comparable with those found in mice infected with the nematode parasite Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, but were approximately 2000-fold less than the peak serum IgG1 levels induced by GaM delta injection. Both IgE and IgG1 secretion in GaM delta injected mice were T dependent (blocked by anti-L3T4 antibody). These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that BSF-1 may play a role in the in vivo stimulation of IgE secretion and provide an easy to apply model for the investigation of in vivo regulation of IgE responses.     

Immunoglobulin levels in various clinical groups of human Brugian filariasis in Malaysia

Quantitation of serum immunoglobulin M, G, A, D and E levels was carried out in Malaysians with Brugia malayi infections. Results showed highly elevated levels of IgM and IgE as well as moderately elevated levels of IgG. These were most significant in patients with tropical pulmonary eosinophilia or elephantiasis. Serum IgE levels were extremely high in microfilaraemic patients (6,060 +/- 3,958 IU ml) probably due to a constant antigenic stimulation by dead and dying microfilariae.     

Commingling in the distributions of immunoglobulin levels

Commingling in the distributions of five immunoglobulins from a Canadian sample of 810 Caucasians and IgE from a US sample of 935 Caucasians was investigated. For both the Canadian and US samples significant commingling was found in the child's but not the adult's IgE distribution. Contrary to expectations based upon the major gene hypothesis for IgM, we found no evidence for commingling in the IgM distribution. Finally, the distributions of IgA, IgD and IgG all evidenced significant commingling that may be the result of a single gene effect or the operation of a discrete environmental effect.     

A rapid prognostic electrophoretic assay for serum lipid conjugates in carcinoma uterine cervix and breast

The levels of cholesterol and lipid associated sialic acid in sera of patients with carcinoma uterine cervix and breast cancer were determined using agarose electrophoresis and precipitation method. Elevated level of lipid associated sialic acid was found, that was specifically reflected only in LDL and VLDL fractions. In carcinoma uterine cervix patients, cholesterol in low density lipoprotein increased with corresponding decrease in high density lipoprotein and there was no change in total as well as VLDL cholesterol content. But breast cancer patients were found to have higher concentrations of both total and high density lipoprotein cholesterol. A good positive correlation was found between electrophoresis and precipitation methods for the lipoprotein analysis. We recommend electrophoretic method for rapid routine analysis.     

Partial IgA-deficiency with increased Th2-type cytokines in TGF-beta 1 knockout mice.

Though it has been shown that TGF-beta 1 directs B cells to switch to IgA in vitro, no studies have assessed TGF-beta 1 effects on mucosal vs systemic immunity in vivo. When the B cell functions of TGF-beta 1 gene-disrupted (TGF-beta 1-/-) mice were analyzed, significantly decreased IgA levels and increased IgG and IgM levels in serum and external secretions were observed. Further, analysis of Ab forming cells (AFC) isolated from both mucosal and systemic lymphoid tissue showed elevated IgM, IgG, and IgE, with decreased IgA AFC. A lack of IgA-committed B cells was seen in TGF-beta 1-/- mice, especially in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Splenic T cells triggered via the TCR expressed elevated Th2-type cytokines and, consistent with this observation, a 31-fold increase in serum IgE was seen in TGF-beta 1-/- mice. Thus, uncontrolled B cell responses, which include elevated IgE levels, a lack of antiinflammatory IgA, and an excess of complement-binding IgG and IgM Abs, will promote inflammation at mucosal surfaces in TGF-beta 1-/- mice and likely contribute to pulmonary and GI tract lesions, ultimately leading to the early death of these mice.     

Serum levels of immunoglobulins, allergen-specific IgE antibodies, and interleukin-4 in cosmonauts before and after short flights on the International Space Station

Serum levels of immunoglobulins G, A, M, and E (IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE, respectively); allergenspecific IgE antibodies; and interleukin-4 (IL-4) were measured in ten cosmonauts before and after flights of 7–11 days on the International Space Station. These relatively short spaceflights did not cause any significant changes in the parameters tested. No linear correlation was found between the serum levels of total IgE and IL-4 for either the pre-or the postflight period.     

Changes in serum immunoglobulins in subjects with acute myocardial infarct and essential hypertension

20 (12 men and 8 women) acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients and 17 (14 men and 3 women) patients with arterial hypertension (II degrees stage according to OMS) in comparison to controls age and sex matched, were studied, serum IgA, IgG, IgM were evaluated with radial immunodiffusion and serum IgE with RIA. Ho significant changes ef immunoglobulins were observed between hypertensive patients and controls; whereas a significant increase of IgM, IgG and IgE, with out changes of IgA, were shown in AMI patients. Serum Ig and IgM were significantly augmented in AMI patients in comparison to hypertensive patients.     

Serum IgA, IgG, IgM and salivary IgA in recurrent aphthous ulceration

Radial immunodiffusion technique was used to estimate salivary immunoglobulin A, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for estimation of serum IgA, IgG and IgM in 30 patients with acute recurrent aphthous ulceration (RAU) and during remission period compared to 30 healthy controls. Significantly elevated level of salivary IgA (p < 0.05) was found in patients with minor RAU when compared to the control group. Serum IgA level was elevated in patients with minor acute RAU when compared to the controls (p < 0.05). Serum immunoglobulin level of IgG and IgM showed no differences between patients with either minor or major recurrent aphthous ulceration and controls.