IgG Subclass Antibody Response in Grass Pollen‐Allergic Patients Undergoing Specific Immunotherapy

All four subclasses of IgG antibodies to timothy grass pollen extract were measured by a three‐layer immunoradiometric assay in sera from 20 grass pollen‐allergic patients who underwent specific immunotherapy in a 3‐year prospective study. Both IgG1 and antibody level passed its peak (median 5,4 U/ml) after 12 weeks. At this time, the ratio between the medians of IgG1 and IgG4 antibodies was 2.25 IgG4 antibody level reached its peak (median 11.6 U/ml) just before termination of immunotherapy. At this time IgG1/IgG4 ratio was 0.43. Two years after the end of immunotherapy, IgG1 and IgG4 antibody levels were 0.0 and 1.8 U/ml in median, respectively. The amounts of IgG2 and IgG3 antibodies detected in the sera were less than 1.6 U/ml and were considerd insignificant. Preseasonal serum IgG1 and IgG4 antibody levels did not correlate significantly with symptom scores in the subsequent season. Serum IgG4 level obtained after 12 weeks of immunotherapy was significantly correlated to symptom score in the third season i.e. the season just after termination of therapy (rs =0.529. t= 2.567. P= 0.02). In this work. A scrum IgG4 antibody level higher than 8.0 U/ml after 12 weeks of therapy predicted poor clinical result at the end of immunotherapy with 100% sensitivity and 87% specificity. An IgG4/IgG1 ratio greater than 1.0 after 12 weeks' therapy had the same predictive value.

[1]  C. Magnusson,et al.  An Automated Particle Counting Immunoassay (PACIA) for Determination of Blocking Antibodies against Timothy Grass Pollen in Sera from Desensitized Allergies , 1983, Allergy.

[2]  S. Siegel,et al.  Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences , 2022, The SAGE Encyclopedia of Research Design.

[3]  H. Løwenstein,et al.  Immunotherapy with grass pollen major allergens. Immunological results from a prospective 3-year double blind study. , 1982, Allergy.

[4]  P. M. Thompson,et al.  The IgG Subclass Distribution of Thyroglobulin Antibody Synthesized in Culture , 1983, Scandinavian journal of immunology.

[5]  M. van der Giessen,et al.  Subclass typing of IgG antibodies formed by grass pollen-allergic patients during immunotherapy. , 1976, International archives of allergy and applied immunology.

[6]  O. Osterballe.  Specific immunotherapy with purified grass pollen extracts. , 1984, Danish medical bulletin.

[7]  P. Kozak,et al.  Correlation of IgG and IgE antibody levels to honey bee venom allergens with protection to sting challenge. , 1981, Annals of allergy.

[8]  D. Meyers,et al.  Clinical relevance of the venom-specific immunoglobulin G antibody level during immunotherapy. , 1982, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

[9]  P. Das,et al.  IgG4 antibodies in Egyptian patients with schistosomiasis. , 1981, International archives of allergy and applied immunology.

[10]  R. Aalberse,et al.  Serologic aspects of IgG4 antibodies. I. Prolonged immunization results in an IgG4-restricted response. , 1983, Journal of immunology.

[11]  B. Andersen,et al.  Gamma G4-Globulin Antibody causing Inhibition of Clotting Factor VIII , 1968, Nature.

[12]  O. Zetterström,et al.  Occupational Allergy in Nurses to a Bulk Laxative , 1979, Allergy.

[13]  J. S. Irons,et al.  Immunotherapy: Mechanisms of action suggested by measurements of immunologic and cellular parameters. , 1975, The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology.

[14]  O. Østerballe.  Immunotherapy with Grass Pollen Major Allergens , 1982 .

[15]  C G Magnusson,et al.  A Three‐Layer Immunoradiometric Assay for Determination of IgG Subclass Antibodies in Human Sera (“IgG Subclass RAST”) , 1984, Allergy.

[16]  J. D. Capra,et al.  Monoclonal antibodies to immunoglobulin G4 induce histamine release from human basophils in vitro. , 1982, The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology.

[17]  H. Løwenstein,et al.  Immunotherapy in Hay Fever with Two Major Allergens 19, 25 and Partially Purified Extract of Timothy Grass Pollen , 1980, Allergy.

[18]  M. Devey,et al.  The IgG subclasses of antibodies to grass pollen allergens produced in hay fever patients during hyposensitization , 1976, Clinical allergy.