In vitro reaction of antibodies to ragweed. I. Radioimmunoassay for measuring antibody levels.
A radioimmunoassay was developed in which human antibodies to ragweed compete with 125I-labeled rabbit anti-ragweed antibodies for the ragweed antigen coupled to cellulose particles. By means of this test, antibodies to ragweed were determined in 96 sera of treated and untreated patients with ragweed allergy and in 32 sera of nonallergic individuals. Within the applied experimental conditions, it was possible to measure antibodies over a range from 0.4 to 200 mug/ml. In patients receiving immunotherapy, the mean value of the antibodies was 7.2 mug/ml, and in the untreated patients 1.8 mug/ml. Antibodies to ragweed were also found in the sera of nonallergic individuals. It is assumed that this test measures 'total' serum antibodies to ragweed.
D000485:Allergens; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005916:Globulins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011817:Rabbits; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D000485:Allergens; D000906:Antibodies; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D005916:Globulins; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D010936:Plant Extracts