title: Circulating immune complexes, complement factors C3, C4, C1-inhibitor, alpha-1-antitrypsin and immunoglobulins in asthmatic patients.
abstract: Sera from 159 adult asthmatic outpatients (extrinsic, n = 82, intrinsic, n = 65 and acetylosalicylic acid (ASA)-sensitive, n = 12) and from 100 controls were tested for total levels of IgG, IgM, IgA, IgE, complement factors C3, C4, C1-inhibitor, alpha 1-antitrypsin and circulating immune complexes. The following results were observed: (1) a marked increase of IgE in extrinsic asthma; (2) a slight increase of IgM, and (3) an equal increase of complement C4 levels in all three asthma groups; (4) normal mean values of C3 levels with a significantly larger standard deviation of the mean in all three asthma groups; (5) an equally slight decrease of protease inhibitors, such as C1-inhibitor and alpha 1-antitrypsin, and (6) the presence of circulating immune complexes in 22% of extrinsic, in 8% of intrinsic and 13% of ASA-sensitive asthmatics. Circulating immune complexes can be found in all three asthma groups and may correlate with complement deviation.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000378:metabolism*; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood*; D003174:Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000378:metabolism; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D003174:Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins; D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D007073:Immunoglobulin E