Immunoglobulin E response to pertussis toxin in whooping cough and after immunization with a whole-cell and an acellular pertussis vaccine.
Immunoglobulin E antibodies to pertussis toxin (PT-IgE) were demonstrated in 15 of 23 (65%) patients with culture-confirmed pertussis. In 6 individuals there was a low-grade PT-IgE response after 6-9 weeks of disease and in 9 a rapid PT-IgE response, appearing 1-3 weeks after onset of symptoms. The PT-IgE antibody levels in immunized individuals were higher than in the non immunized. Following primary immunization of 23 children with a monovalent whole-cell pertussis vaccine (Burroughs-Wellcome, UK) or with an acellular pertussis vaccine (JNIH-6, Biken, Japan) a late low-grade PT-IgE response was found in 8 (35%). In 7/10 children previously immunized with the JNIH-6, a booster injection 16 months later with the same vaccine resulted in a rapidly appearing PT-IgE antibody response. In contrast, none of 13 children initially immunized with the monovalent whole-cell vaccine and then boostered with either this vaccine or JNIH-6 had detectable PT-IgE antibodies after the booster injection. The study shows that IgE-antibodies to pertussis toxin commonly appear in patients with whooping cough and that the kinetics and the magnitude of the response is influenced by previous exposure to the antigen. A PT-IgE response may also follow pertussis immunization.
Hedenskog
S
S
Department of Pediatrics, University of Linköping, Sweden.
Björkstén
B
B
Blennow
M
M
Granström
G
G
Granström
M
M
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella / Q000276:immunology*; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D037342:Pertussis Toxin