Occurrence Of Immunoglobulin Research Articles

Occurrence of Immunoglobulin M Antibodies against Several Bacterial and Viral Pathogens in Acute Hantavirus Infection

Elevated levels of immunoglobulin M antibodies against various pathogens, most frequently Epstein-Barr-virus and Coxiella burnetii, were detected by immunoassay in 15 of 48 patients (31.3%) with acute Puumala virus infections. Although the mechanisms leading to this IgM response are not clear yet, polyspecific immunoglobulin M antibodies have to be taken into account to avoid misinterpretation of serological results in acute hantavirus infection.

Morphological studies of baseline needle biopsies from living donor kidneys: light microscopic, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural findings.

Fifty-seven consecutive living donors (31 women and 26 men aged 20.7-72.3 years, mean 50.6 years) were subjected to needle biopsy during nephrectomy, immediately before removal of the kidney. By light microscopy, semiquantitative scoring (0-3) was performed for arteriosclerosis, arteriolar hyalinosis (hyalin arteriolosclerosis), glomerulosclerosis, interstitial mononuclear cell infiltration, and interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy. Whereas vascular changes were striking in many biopsies (arteriosclerosis grades 2-3: 28/54 cases, arteriolar hyalinosis grades 2-3: 15/55 cases), glomerular and tubulointerstitial changes were mostly low grade. The morphological changes tended to be more pronounced in middle-aged and older individuals, but, in particular, vascular changes were seen also in the younger age group. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed glomerular granular staining for IgM in 52.7% of the cases, IgA in 9.1%), IgG in 1.8%, and C3 in 12.7%. The main ultrastructural finding was glomerulosclerosis; one case with diffuse glomerular IgA showed distinct dense deposits, and one case showed similar dense deposits without IgA deposition. Arteriolar wall deposition of C3 was found in 58.2% of the cases, and IgM in 10.9%. Especially C3 occurred both with arteriolar hyalinosis and in arterioles without light microscopic alterations. The observation of significant vascular changes in baseline biopsies is relevant especially in the differential diagnosis of chronic rejection and cyclosporine nephropathy. The immunohistochemical findings strongly indicate the occurrence of immunoglobulins and complement factor C3 in both glomeruli and arterioles without clinical or morphological signs of renal disease. The possible pathophysiological significance of such deposits remains, however, uncertain.

The occurrence of IgG in the endolymphatic sac of the guinea pig.

We investigated the occurrence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the endolymphatic sac (ES) of the guinea pig in order to show that the ES is an organ involved in the immunoreactivity of the inner ear. By using an immunohistological technique, we were able to show that IgG is located mainly in the subepithelial layer of the ES. We also found that IgG is present in some epithelial cells of the ES as well as in free floating cells in the ES lumen. Although plasma cells have been described previously in the subepithelial layer, none could be recognized in this layer of the ES in our specimens. Our results suggest that the ES is an immunoreactive organ of the inner ear in some pathological states, while IgG in the normal ES is primarily of systemic origin.

Immunoglobulin bearing blood leucocytes in the Pacific hagfish

The occurrence of immunoglobulin (Ig) bearing leucocytes in the blood of the Pacific hagfish, Eptatretus stoutii , was examined using a murine monoclonal antibody (45.3) and a rabbit antiserum specific for hagfish serum Ig. Binding of antibody 45.3 to hagfish leucocytes assessed by radioimmunoassay was inhibited by preincubation of antibody with purified serum Ig thus verifying the presence of cell surface Ig cross reactive with serum Ig. The monoclonal antibody identified approximately 65% of blood leucocytes as Ig+ve while the rabbit antiserum indicated 81% Ig+ve cells. Both antibody preparations failed to react specifically with cells from mouse, horned shark, tunicate or sea star; this indicates the distinctive nature of hagfish Ig. The high percentage of blood cells bearing surface Ig in the hagfish raises the possibility that lymphocyte divergence to separate B and T pathways may not have occurred in this most primitive vertebrate. Alternatively, an Ig-like specificity characteristic of both “T” and “B” lymphocytes may have been detected. In any event, a subset of Ig negative leucocytes is evident in hagfish.

The occurrence of immunoglobulin E in human seminal plasma

The presence of IgE in human seminal plasma has been explored using two different radioimmunoassay methods. Samples were obtained from 84 patients under investigation for involuntary infertility. Low levels were recorded in seminal plasma (⩽0.5–8.5 kIU/1) together with a wide scatter of serum values (⩽0.5–956 kIU/1). The incidence of detectable seminal plasma IgE was related to high serum IgE values ( P ⩽ 0.001; χ 2-test). Among men reporting allergy problems and who had serum IgE levels above 50 kIU/1 detectable semen IgE was seen in 15 out of 18 patients. Sperm agglutination was observed in 18 men of whom 11 had detectable seminal plasma IgE. The question of whether or not seminal plasma IgE is a plasma transudate or is locally produced as well as its possible function in seminal plasma is discussed.

Serological response to salmonella typhi O-antigens during infection by legionella pneumophila

The first case of Legionnaires' disease in a Norwegian is described. The disease was contracted in France. The patient had preceding bronchopulmonary changes and exhibited most signs and symptoms typical of Legionnaires' disease: Fever, cough, dyspnoea, chest pains, myalgias, cerebral symptoms, decreased renal function, and hepatic involvement. The diagnosis was confirmed by the indirect fluorescent antibody technique, and the immune response was directed against theLegionella pneumophila serogroup 1. Of particular interest in this patient is the simultaneous occurrence of immunoglobulins directed againstSalmonella typhi O-antigens. The presence of IgM in acute stage sera and diminishing titers during the succeeding months indicate that the antibodies were, indeed, elicited byL. pneumophila serogroup 1 antigens.

Occurrence of immunoglobulins and complement in the skin of patients undergoing topical treatment of mycosis fungoides

Deposits of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA and IgM) and complement were occasionally found in lesional skin of mycosis fungoides patients. However, after complete remission of the skin lesions, deposits of immunoglobulins and complement were found, corresponding to previous infiltrates or tumours, in about half of the patients. These deposits appeared as globular bodies in the upper part of the dermis closely connected with the basement membrane.

Selective Immunoglobulin a Deficiency, Ulcerative Colitis, and Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy—A Unique Association

A patient with selective immunoglobulin A deficiency, severe ulcerative colitis, and malabsorption had a flat jejunal mucosa demonstrated by peroral biopsy. Treatment at different times with a gluten-free diet for the jejunal lesion and corticosteroids for the ulcerative colitis, led to improvement of the malabsorption. A repeat jejunal biopsy demonstrated histological improvement of the jejunal mucosa, even though the colitis remained active. The occurrence of immunoglobulin A deficiency in a patient with ulcerative colitis and gluten-sensitive enteropathy is uncommon.

Similar idiotypes in antibody-forming cells and in cells synthesizing immunoglobulins without detectable antibody function.

The occurrence of immunoglobulins with and without antibody specificity and with and without idiotypic specificity was studied, by use of enzyme-labeled antigen and antibodies, in lymph node cells of rabbits immunized with horse-radish peroxidase and hen ovalbumin. Some cells, containing immunoglobulins without detectable antibody function, were shown to contain idiotypes similar to those found in antibody-producing cells.

Immunoglobulin in clinically uninvolved skin in systemic lupus erythematosus: association with renal disease.

23 of 42, or 55%, of patients with systemic lupus erythematous had immunoglobulin deposits along the epidermal basement membrane of uninvolved skin (positive lupus band test [LBT]). In patients with low serum complement levels, 91% had a positive LBT), as compared with 15% in those with normal complement levels. The LBT was positive in 70% of patients with clinical and laboratory evidence of renal disease, but in only 31% of patients without renal disease. 81% of patients with the more severe histologic forms of lupus nephritis, i.e., proliferative glomerulonephritis and membranous glomerulonephritis, and positive tests, whereas only 23% with mesangial glomerulitis or normal histologic findings were positive. Immunoglobulins of the same class found in the skin were detected in the glomeruli of patients examined by renal biopsy. These results suggest that there is a relationship between the occurrence of immunoglobulin in the epidermal basement membrane and the presence of the more severe forms of lupus nephritis.

Occurrence of immunoglobulin and complement in the glomeruli of rats with long-term alloxan diabetes. An immunofluorescence study.

The occurrence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and complement (β1C) in the kidneys of untreated alloxan diabetic rats has been investigated by immunofluorescent technique using ethanol fixed, paraffin embedded tissue. The results were compared with light microscopical glomerular changes described previously. IgG could be demonstrated in glomeruli (mainly in the mesangium) of almost all diabetic rats as early as one month after diabetes induction, i.e. before light microscopical glomerular lesions were present. The frequency and severity of IgG deposition did not change with increasing diabetes duration up to 12 months. There was a positive correlation between the amount of mesangial IgG and the severity of the diabetic state, as measured by diuresis. Slight amounts of mesangial IgG were also found in a few old nondiabetic controls. β1C could not be demonstrated with certainty in glomeruli when using the paraffin embedding method. However, the use of freezing technique in a few diabetic rats permitted detection of β1C in the mesangium of some cases.

The occurrence of immunoglobulins in the dermo-epidermal junction of the skin in lupus erythematosus and related syndromes.

The occurrence of immunoglobulins in the dermo-epidermal junction of the skin in lupus erythematosus and related syndromes.