The change of allergen-specific IgG subclass antibodies during immunotherapy in mite-sensitive asthmatic children
Wang, J.Y.; Lei, H.Y.; Hsieh, K.H.
Asian Pacific Journal of Allergy and Immunology 10(1): 11-18
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-877X PMID: 1418178 Document Number: 393688
Fifty-six Dermatophagoid farinae (D.f)-sensitive asthmatic children were hyposensitized by D.f-crude extract for two years. Serum total IgG subclass antibodies and D.f-specific IgE and IgG subclass antibodies were measured by ELISA before and after 2 years of treatment. The results showed that 1) After two years of treatment, there were significantly higher levels of total serum IgG1 in both responder and non-responder groups than those before treatment (p lt 0.01). The responder group also had significantly higher values of total IgG2 and IgG4 after immunotherapy (IT)(P lt 0.05), but not in the non-responder group. 2) The serum levels of D.f-specific IgG3 and IgG4 antibodies in responder group increased significantly after IT (p lt 0.05). One the contrary, the D.f-specific IgE and IgG1 IgG1 in the responder group were significantly lower than those before IT. No signiin the responder group were significantly lower than those before IT. No signibody titres before and after IT was found in non-responder group. 3) There was a significant correlation between the total IgG4 and D.f-specific IgG4 antibody (r = 0.634, p lt 0.01). The correlation coefficient was 0.634. No correlation was found between the other IgG subclass antibodies and D.f-specific IgG subclass antibodies. 4) Correlations between the levels of D.f-specific IgE and IgG subclass antibodies were highly significant both in IT-responder and non-responder groups. There was significant correlation between the levels of D.f-specific IgG1 and IgG4 in non-responders, while no relationship was observed in the responder group. In conclusion, an increase of allergen-specific IgG4 and decrease of allergen-specific IgG1 antibodies following immunotherapy can be of clinical benefit to allergic individuals, at least to most children suffering from mite-sensitive asthma.