IgE hidden in immune complexes with anti-IgE autoantibodies in children with asthma.
Serum levels of IgE, anti-IgE autoantibodies (Abs), and IgE/IgG anti-IgE immune complexes (ICs) were measured in 110 children with asthma and 90 healthy control children. Significantly enhanced levels of IgE/anti-IgE IC were detected in children with asthma. However, only a weak correlation was found between anti-IgE auto-Ab serum levels and the degree of lung function abnormalities in children with asthma. However, children with asthma with low serum IgE levels had elevated IC serum levels of IgE/anti-IgE auto-Abs, suggesting that IgE might be hidden within these ICs and is therefore not measurable in vitro. The significant elevation of IgE/anti-IgE IC serum levels raises the question whether IgE within ICs is neutralized or might still be involved in immunologic mechanisms responsible for clinical symptoms of bronchial asthma.
Ritter
C
C
Department of Pediatrics, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Bättig
M
M
Kraemer
R
R
Stadler
B M
BM
D000293:Adolescent; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E