Specific IgG subclasses in pollinosis
García, B.E.; Sanz, M.L.; Diéguez, I.; de las Marinas, M.D.; Oehling, A.
Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology 2(6): 300-306
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 1018-9068 PMID: 1342913 Document Number: 402680
We studied IgG subclasses in pollinosis in order to determine the possible immunopathological role of these antibodies, epecially antigen-specific IgG-4. The selection of pollinosic patients allowed us to observe the influence natural antigenic exposure exerts upon antibodies. On the other hand, we intended to study the possible modifications immunotherapy produces an IgG subclasses. For this purpose, we selected 266 patients who were classified into the following groups: Group I, 65 patients without immunotherapy, 35 of whom were studied during the pollen season and 30 outside the pollen season; Group II, 40 nonpollinosic patients with hypersensitization to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus were taken as atopic controls; Group III, 161 pollinosic patients with from 3 to 42 months of immunotherapy. For every patient, IgG-1, and IgG-2 and IgG-3 against Phleum pratense were determined by means of ELAST (Leti), and IgG-4 against the same allergen by means of the ELISA technique developed by us. Our results confirm, first, that untreated pollinosic patients present higher concentrations of IgG-4 against Phleum than nonpollinosic patients, and second, that immunotherapy produces significant modifications in the production of antigen-specific IgG.