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.
Devey
M E
ME
Department of Clinical Sciences, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, England.
Lee
S R
SR
Richards
D
D
Kemeny
D M
DM
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