The primary immune response in bronchial asthma: I. A kinetic study of helix pomatia hemocyanin-specific IgE, IgG, IgA, and IgM antibody responses in patients with asthma and in matched controls

Abstract

Eleven asthmatic patients with allergy and 10 age- and sex-matched controls were immunized subcutaneously with 1 mg of the primary test immunogen Helix pomatia hemocyanin (HPH). The HPH-specific IgE, IgG, IgA, and IgM antibody response of the patients exceeded that of the controls ( p < 0.01). IgA antibody response also tended to be higher in the asthmatic group (NS). Except for an earlier rise after immunization in the asthmatic group ( p < 0.05). IgM peak responses did not differ significantly between the two groups. There was a high correlation (r = 0.9) between the magnitude of the IgE and the IgG antibody responses. IgM antibody response did not correlate with the response in any of the other antibody classes measured. The total serum immunoglobulin concentration was determined before immunization. Only the IgE level was significantly higher in the asthmatic group ( p < 0.01). No correlation was found between serum immunoglobulin concentrations and the magnitude of the HPH-specific antibody response in the same class. We conclude that the increased humoral responsiveness of asthmatic patients with allergy is not restricted to the IgE class nor to a limited number of commonly encountered antigens (allergens).