Serial studies on the functional affinity and heterogeneity of antibodies of different IgG subclasses to phospholipase A2 produced in response to bee-venom immunotherapy.
High functional affinity and high titer IgG4 antibodies to phospholipase A2 were produced by allergic patients in response to bee-venom immunotherapy. In contrast, the affinity of IgG1 antibodies decreased after immunotherapy, and both the titer and affinity of IgG1 antiphospholipase A2 remained significantly lower compared to IgG4 1 to 2 years after treatment. Analysis of affinity heterogeneity suggested a loss of IgG1 high-affinity antibody-producing clones during immunotherapy and a preferential expansion of IgG4 clones. High-affinity IgE antibodies were found in untreated allergic patients, and preliminary results suggest that immunotherapy may result in an early marked decrease in the affinity of IgE antibodies.
Department of Clinical Sciences, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, England.
M E
ME
Devey
S R
SR
Lee
D
D
Richards
D M
DM
Kemeny
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000915:Antibody Affinity; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000276:immunology*; D001516:Bees; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D010740:Phospholipases / Q000276:immunology*; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000276:immunology*; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D013997:Time Factors
D001514:Bee Venoms; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D010740:Phospholipases; D010741:Phospholipases A; D054467:Phospholipases A2