C3-containing IgE immune complexes in asthmatic patients.
10.3346/jkms.1996.11.3.217
- Author:
Dong Ho NAHM
1
;
Hae Sim PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Kyung-Ki-Do, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
IgE-Immune complex;
Complement 3;
Bronchial asthma;
House dust mite
- MeSH:
Adult;
Animal;
Antigen-Antibody Complex/*blood;
Asthma/*immunology;
Complement 3/*analysis;
Dust;
Human;
Immunoglobulin E/*blood;
Mites/immunology
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
1996;11(3):217-221
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Higher levels of IgE-containing immune complexes (IC) have been reported in sera from patients with allergic diseases than in sera from controls. To evaluate the possibility of an IC-mediated mechanism in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma, we measured circulating C3-containing IgE IC (C3-IgE IC) using anti-C3 ELISA from 20 house dust mite (HDM)-sensitive asthmatics, 20 non-atopic asthmatics, and 14 non-atopic controls. C3-IgE IC levels were significantly higher in HDM-sensitive asthmatics (mean +/- S.D.: 12.2 +/- 7.8 AU/ml) than in non-atopic asthmatics (6.5 +/- 7.5 AU/ml) or controls (5.8 +/- 4.4 AU/ml). C3-IgE IC levels were significantly correlated with HDM-specific IgE levels (r = 0.50, p<0.05), but not with total IgE levels (r = 0.36, p< 0.05) in HDM-sensitive atopic asthmatics. C3-IgE IC levels in sera did not significantly change during HDM-bronchoprovocation test in six HDM-sensitive asthmatics who showed positive reaction. Part of C3-IgE IC could be precipitated by protein G coupled beads. In conclusion, C3-IgE IC levels were elevated in sera from HDM-sensitive asthmatics; moreover IgG antibodies might be a component of C3-IgE IC. Our results suggest that an IgE IC-mediated mechanism could be involved in the pathogenesis of atopic asthma.
