To compare the mediator releasability between atopic and nonatopic asthmatics, we measured basophil histamine releasability (BaHR) using a calcium-ionophore A23187 and anti-IgE in 137 subjects who were treated at Seoul National University Hospital. Subjects were categorized into atopic (group AA, n=77) or nonatopic asthmatics (group NA, n=32), or normal controls (group NC, n=28). Serum total IgE levels were determined and correlation with BaHR was assessed. Anti-IgE-induced maximal BaHR in groups AA, NA, and NC was 41.0+/-3.2, 23.1+/-4.5, and 16.8+/-3.8, respectively (mean+/-SE, %). Anti-IgE-induced BaHR in group AA was significantly higher than that in groups NA and NC (p<0.05). Calcium ionophore A23187-induced maximal BaHR was 43.1+/-2.8, 40.8+/-4.4, and 50.5+/-5.2, respectively (mean+/-SE, %), and there was no significant difference among the groups. Serum total IgE level correlated significantly with anti-IgE-induced maximal BaHR (r=0.281, p<0.01) but not with that induced by calcium ionophore A23187. In conclusion, IgE receptor-related BaHR is higher in atopic asthmatics than in nonatopic asthmatics, and this increased BaHR in atopics is significantly associated with increased serum total IgE level.
Asthma/immunology* ; Basophils/immunology* ; Basophils/drug effects ; Calcimycin/pharmacology ; Child ; Comparative Study ; Histamine Release/immunology* ; Histamine Release/drug effects ; Human ; IgE/immunology* ; IgE/blood ; Ionophores/pharmacology

Serum IgE level and Clonorchis specific IgE in individuals with Clonorchis sinensis were determined by radioimmunosorbent(RIST) and radioallergosorbent technique(RAST) respectively. Highly significant elevations of serum IgE (P<0.001) and specific IgE antibodies (P<0.01) were observed in area from individuals with clonorchiasis. The mean values of serum IgE in individuals with clonorchiasis and healthy individuals were 2,372 IU/ml and 364 IU/ml respectively and specific IgE antibodies of both groups were 52.0 and 4.4%. A close correlation(r=0.9451) between serum IgE level and specific IgE antibodies were observed and correlation (r=0.6056) between serum IgE and EPG and between specific IgE and EPG(r=0.5693) were also observed.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; Clonorchis sinensis ; clonorchiasis ; immunology ; radioimmunosorbent test ; radioallergosorbent test ; IgA ; IgE ; serum

Increased FcepsilonR1alpha expression with upregulated CD203c expression on peripheral basophils is seen in patients with chronic urticaria (CU). However, there has been no published report on the association between CD203c expression level and clinical disease activity in CU patients. To investigate whether the increase of basophil activation is associated with the disease activity of CU, we measured basophil CD203c expression using a tricolor flow cytometric method in 82 CU patients and 21 normal controls. The relationship between the percentage of CD203c-expressing basophils and clinical parameters was analyzed. The mean basophil CD203c expression was significantly higher in CU patients than in healthy controls (57.5% vs 11.6%, P < 0.001). The basophil CD203c expression in severe CU patients was significantly higher than in non-severe CU (66.5% +/- 23.3% vs 54.0% +/- 23.3%, P = 0.033). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that both > or = 72% basophil CD203c expression and urticaria activity score (UAS)> or = 13 were significant predictors of severe CU (P = 0.005 and P = 0.032, respectively). These findings suggest that the quantification of basophil activation with CD203c at baseline may be used as a potential predictor of severe CU requiring another treatment option beyond antihistamines.
Adult ; Autoantibodies/blood ; Basophils/*immunology ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E/blood/immunology ; Male ; Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases/biosynthesis/*immunology ; Pyrophosphatases/biosynthesis/*immunology ; Receptors, IgE/biosynthesis ; Urticaria/*immunology

Childhood minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) has often been associated with allergic symptoms such as urticaria, bronchial asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and elevated IgE levels and referred to involve immune dysfunction. Fc epsilon RII is known to be involved in IgE production and response. Interleukin-4 is being recognized as a major cytokine up-regulating IgE production. Hence the present study is aimed at investigating the role of interleukin-4 and Fc epsilon RII in the pathogenesis of MCNS. IgE was measured by ELISA. Fc epsilon RII was analyzed by fluorescence activated cell scanner (FAC-scan) by double antibody staining with anti Leu16-FITC and anti Leu20-PE. Soluble IgE receptor was measured by ELISA using anti CD23 antibody (3-5-14). Interleukin-4 activities were measured by CD23 expression on purified human tonsillar B cells. Serum IgE levels were significantly higher in MCNS (1,507 +/- 680 IU/dl) than in normal controls (123 +/- 99.2 IU/dl). A significantly higher expression of membrane Fc epsilon RII was noted for MCNS (41 +/- 12%) than that in normal controls (18 +/- 6.2%) (p < 0.001). Soluble CD23 levels were also significantly higher in MCNS (198 +/- 39.3%) than in normal controls (153 +/- 13.4) (p < 0.01). Interleukin-4 activity in sera of MCNS (12U/ml) was also significantly higher than normal controls (4.5U/ml). These results indicate that increased production of Fc epsilon RII and interleukin-4 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of MCNS.
B-Lymphocytes/immunology ; Child ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E/blood ; Interleukin-4/*physiology ; Nephrosis, Lipoid/*etiology/physiopathology ; Receptors, IgE/biosynthesis/*physiology ; Solubility

B-Lymphocytes ; chemistry ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Male ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch ; immunology ; Receptors, IgE ; blood

Clonorchis sinensis is a liver fluke and it is the most prevalent human parasite in Korea at present. The parasite infection induces immune responses, characteristically an increased production of parasite-specific IgE in the host. Major IgE-reacting C. sinensis antigens in infected humans have been protein bands with MWs of 15, 28, 37, 45, 51, 56, 62, 66, 74, 97 and 160 KD identified by immunoblot analysis. Individual variations of the IgE binding pattern to C. sinensis antigens have also been documented. Using immune BALB/c mouse sera, IgE-reacting protein bands have been visualized with MWs of 28, 74, 86, 160 and several > 200 KD. One of the most strongly reacted C. sinensis antigenic proteins with a molecular weight of 28 KD was purified by gel filtration and preparative electrophoresis. Using a monoclonal antibody produced against the antigenic protein, the protein was localized in the parasite's intestine, and also found to be contained in excretory-secretory antigens.
Animal ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Antigens, Helminth/immunology* ; Antigens, Helminth/analysis* ; Clonorchis sinensis/immunology* ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Human ; IgE/immunology* ; Immunoblotting ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C

A 13-year-old girl presented with multiple skin abscesses. She was diagnosed as having juvenile dermatomyositis (DM) at the age of 7 years. She had suffered from recurrent skin infections, atypical pruritic dermatitis and pneumonia since the age of 8 years. Bacteriologic and fungal cultures for skin abscesses and oral mucosa were positive S. aureus and C. albicans, respectively. Chemotactic defect in peripheral blood neutrophils was observed. The level of serum IgE was markedly elevated, and anti-S.aureus specific IgE was found. A diagnosis of hyperimmunoglobulin E-recurrent infection syndrome (HIE) was made and she was successfully treated with surgical drainage and antibiotics. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of HIE in a patient with juvenile dermatomyositis.
Adolescence ; Case Report ; Dermatomyositis/complications* ; Female ; Human ; IgE/blood ; Job's Syndrome/immunology ; Job's Syndrome/diagnosis ; Job's Syndrome/complications* ; Staphylococcal Infections/immunology ; Staphylococcal Infections/complications ; Staphylococcus aureus/immunology

The prevalence studies on specific IgE to toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-human serum albumin (HSA) conjugate in TDI-induced asthma have shown variable results. In this study, we attempted to compare specific IgE bindings to TDI-HSA conjugate and its specificity using 3 different conjugates. Sera were collected from 20 TDI-induced asthma and 10 controls. Specific IgE were measured by ELISA using three TDI-HSA conjugates; two from Carnegie Mellon (CM; 98 and 99 CM conjugates) and one from Ajou University. To evaluate specificity and cross-reactivity, ELISA inhibition tests were applied. Positive and negative predictive values between Ajou conjugate and 98 CM conjugate were 75% and 100%. Those between Ajou and 99 CM were 100% and 93.8%. One patient showed an isolated positive response to the Ajou with negative responses to the other two conjugates. ELISA inhibition test using this patient's serum revealed the significant inhibitions by the Ajou and minimal inhibitions by the others. On the other hand, another patient showed an isolated positive response to 99 CM with negative responses to the others, and ELISA inhibition test showed significant inhibition by 99 CM with minimal inhibitions by the others. These results suggest that specific IgE bindings to a new antigenic determinant of TDI-HSA conjugate can be heterogeneous and differ from one individual to another.
Asthma/immunology ; Asthma/chemically induced* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Human ; IgE/biosynthesis* ; Serum Albumin/immunology* ; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate/immunology* ; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate/adverse effects

OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: To confirm the local production of IgE antibody from the nasal polyp tissue, and to evaluate the difference between atopics and non-atopics, nasal polyp tissues were taken from both 10 atopic and 10 non-atopic subjects. The tissue total IgE (tlgE) level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and serum tlgE level by radio-immunoassay. The tissue albumin level was measured by nephelometry, and serum albumin level by Bromocresol green method. RESULTS: The polyp tissue tlgE/albumin as well as serum tlgE/albumin ratio were significantly higher in atopics than in non-atopics (p < 0.05), with no difference in the albumin level between the two groups (p > 0.05). Three non-atopic subjects had high polyp tissue tlgE/albumin (> 10). A significant correlation was noted between serum tlgE/albumin and polyp tlgE/albumin (r = 0.46, p = 0.04). The ratio of polyp tlgE/albumin to serum tlgE/albumin was greater than 1 in all of the non-atopic subjects and 7 of 10 atopic subjects. CONCLUSION: These findings support the hypothesis that IgE antibody could be locally produced from the nasal polyp tissue of non-atopic subjects as well as atopic subjects. The possibility of an isolated local production of IgE antibody was suggested.
Albumins/analysis ; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic/analysis* ; Biopsy, Needle ; Comparative Study ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Human ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate/immunology* ; IgE/biosynthesis* ; IgE/analysis ; Male ; Nasal Polyps/pathology ; Nasal Polyps/immunology* ; Radioimmunoassay ; Reference Values ; Tissue Culture ; Substances: IgE ; Substances: Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic ; Substances: Albumins

Cockroaches have been implicated as a cause of respiratory allergy in urban areas worldwide. IgE-reactive German cockroach proteins were identified with molecular weights (MWs) of 90, 66, 50, 43 and 36 KD by immunoblot analysis in both immune BALB/c mice and sensitized humans. Prominent IgE-reactive proteins were purified using FPLC by ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration and hydrophobic chromatography. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of a purified protein with a MW of 66 KD on SDS-PAGE was Val-Thr-Leu-Lys-Lys(Val)-Met-Ile-Lys-Thr-Phe-Tyr. No homologous protein was found through a search of GenBank that indicated a novel IgE-reactive protein in German cockroach extract. Another purified protein with a MW of 36 KD reacted strongly with a monoclonal antibody against Bla g 2.
Amino Acid Sequence/genetics ; Animal ; Cockroaches/chemistry* ; Human ; IgE/immunology* ; Insect Proteins/isolation & purification* ; Insect Proteins/immunology* ; Insect Proteins/genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Tissue Extracts/chemistry*