A comparison between IgE and IgG4 as markers of allergy in children: an experimental trial in a model of natural antigen avoidance.
IgG4 have been hypothesized to act as blocking antibodies capable of preventing IgE-mediated effector cell triggering. This study aims to evaluate the changes in IgG4 in children during a period of natural antigen avoidance. Serum IgE and IgG4 were evaluated in a group of asthmatic children, aged between 7 and 17 years, admitted to the residential house Istituto Pio XII (Misurina, BL, Italy), located at 1,756 m, in a natural model of antigen avoidance. All the patients were skin prick test positive to at least two of the following allergens: Dermatophagoides pteronissynus, Dermatophagoides farinae, cat epithelium, timothy grass pollen and Parietaria pollen. During the 180 days of hospitalization, serum specific IgE and IgG4 were measured six times. A significant decrease (p&#x2264;0.05) in serum specific IgE to house dust mite and pollen allergens was observed; by contrast, no significant variations were shown by IgG4 and IgG4/IgE ratio. No significant relationship was found between serum specific IgE, IgG4 and IgG4/IgE ratio variations and the re-exposure to house dust mite allergens during the Christmas holidays. A positive correlation between specific IgE and specific IgG4 was observed at each considered time (T0: r=0.57, p=0.08; T1: r=0.85, p=0.001; T3: r=0.76, p=0.01). The positive correlation between specific IgE and specific IgG4, enduring throughout the entire time of study, suggests a relationship between these classes of immunoglobulins.
Department of Life and Reproduction Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
G L
GL
Piacentini
S
S
Guerresi
A
A
Kantar
L
L
Lubrano
F
F
Olivieri
A L
AL
Boner
D G
DG
Peroni
D000293:Adolescent; D000531:Altitude; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D007558:Italy; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D032403:Parietaria / Q000276:immunology; D031784:Phleum / Q000276:immunology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012621:Seasons; D013997:Time Factors
D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D015415:Biomarkers; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E