Percutaneous renal biopsy was performed on a 34 year old male patient with mild proteinuria and microhematuria. Histopathologic examination showed a focal mesangiopathic glomerulonephritis, simulating a "minimal change" disease pattern by light microscope. Granular deposits of IgA, C3, IgG, IgM, and fibrinogen were present in the glomerular mesangial area by immunofluorescent technique. A special prevalence of IgA was found. The intensity of immunofluorescent staining was correlated with the mesangial proliferative reaction by light microscopy. Electron microscopy showed electron dense granular deposits in the mesangial areas. The glomerulonephritis in this patient was related with the IgA antibody associated mesangial immune complex deposit disease mediated by the classic complement pathway. This glomerulonephritis is known to have a good prognosis. The antigenic nature, the reason of predominant immune deposits in the mesangium, and the mechanism of a special prevalence of IgA and IgM immunoglobulin classes are discussed, and special attention to the value of immunofluorescent study of renal diseases, with a review of the literature, is given.
Adult ; Case Report ; Glomerulonephritis/immunology* ; Glomerulonephritis/pathology ; Human ; Immunoglobulin A/analysis* ; Immunoglobulin G/analysis* ; Kidney/ultrastructure ; Male

In this experiment, a novel biotin-avidin conjugation probe was synthesized and employed in the detection of reverse-phase protein microarray. Firstly, the proportion of the biotin-avidin conjugation probe was optimized. Then the rat IgG and goat anti-rat IgG system was served as a model to optimize the fabrication conditions of reverse-phase protein microarray, including the non-specific absorption of streptavidin-Cy3 molecules, spotting buffer as well as protein activities. At last, the biotin-avidin conjugation probe was applied to the detection of the reverse-phase protein microarray. The results show that the protein microarray prepared by using BSA spotting buffer could prevent non-specific absorptions of fluorescent molecules and improve the sensitivity, effectively. In addition, compared with traditional biotin-avidin system, the detection limit could be improved four times using the biotin-avidin conjugation probe. In conclusion, the biotin-avidin conjugation probe has its merits of easy synthesis, low price and could be further conjugated with other signal amplification techniques, which is promising to be used in the detection of protein microarray.
Avidin ; chemistry ; Biotin ; chemistry ; DNA Probes ; Immunoglobulin G ; analysis ; immunology ; Protein Array Analysis ; methods

BACKGROUND: The recent expansion of knowledge about various ABO alleles has led to the need for a comprehensive measure to cover the numerous polymorphisms dispersed in the ABO gene. A few studies have examined the diversity of the O allele compared to A or B subgroup alleles, resulting in antigenic changes. This study investigated the relationship between the serologic and molecular genetic characteristics of the O alleles in the Korean population. METHODS: One hundred and five samples from healthy blood group O subjects were selected randomly. The isoagglutinin titer was measured using a tube agglutination and gel microcolumn assay. The ABO alleles were analyzed by sequencing exons 6 and 7 of the ABO gene. When the origin of a heterozygous nucleotide sequence was ambiguous, it was separated into a single allele using mono-allele amplification or cloning. RESULTS: The median IgM isoagglutinin titer was eight. In contrast, the median IgG anti-A and anti-B isoagglutinin titers were 64 and 32, respectively. The IgG isoagglutinin titer showed a significant increase with age (P<0.0001). Six O alleles were observed in 105 blood group O populations by sequencing. The O01 and O02 alleles were common (0.57, 0.36). Three rare O alleles (O04, O05, and O06) and one novel non-deletional O allele were found. CONCLUSION: The distribution of isoagglutinin titers of blood group O and the genetic frequency of O alleles in this study would form the basis of the development and interpretation of ABO genotyping and serologic workup in the Korean population.
Agglutination ; Alleles ; Base Sequence ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; Exons ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Molecular Biology ; Sequence Analysis

BACKGROUND: Measurement of the ABO antibody (Ab) titer is important in ABO-incompatible transplantation. However, to the best of our knowledge, no standard protocol or external survey program to measure the ABO Ab titer has been established in Korea. We investigated the current status of ABO Ab titer measurements at various laboratories in Korea and the impact of the protocol provided to reduce interlaboratory variations in the methods and results of ABO Ab titers. METHODS: The Korean external quality assessment of blood bank laboratories sent external survey samples with a questionnaire to 68 laboratories across Korea for the measurement of ABO Ab titers in May 2012. After 6 months, a second set of survey samples were sent with a standard protocol to 53 of the previously surveyed laboratories. The protocol recommended incubation at room temperature only and use of the indirect antihuman globulin method for the tube test as well as and the column agglutination test (CAT). RESULTS: Several interlaboratory variations were observed in the results, technical procedures, and methods selected for measurement. We found that 80.4% laboratories hoped to change their protocol to the provisional one. Additionally, CAT showed significantly lower variation among laboratories (P=0.006) than the tube test. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides baseline data regarding the current status of ABO Ab titer measurement in Korea. The standard protocol and external survey were helpful to standardize the technical procedures and select methods for ABO Ab titer measurement.
ABO Blood-Group System/*immunology ; Agglutination Tests/*standards ; Antibodies/*analysis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/analysis ; Immunoglobulin M/analysis ; Laboratories/*standards ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Temperature

There are many serologic tests for syphilis. By means of the usual serologic tests, it is not possible to differentiate between patients who need therapy and those who are cured. In this paper I want to discuss the scientific developments and demonstrate the results of immunologic research in syphilis, which makes it possible to differentiate between treated and untreated cases.
Antibodies, Bacterial/analysis ; Chromatography, Gel ; Electrophoresis, Starch Gel ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Hemagglutination Tests ; Human ; Immunoglobulin G/analysis ; Immunoglobulin M/analysis ; Syphilis/immunology* ; Syphilis Serodiagnosis* ; Treponema pallidum/immunology

AIMTo explore the role of humoral immunity in the pathophysiological process of freezing injury and the possible immune interference in the preventation and treatment of frostbite.

METHODSSevere experimental freezing injury model was made in Wistar rats( n = 20). The concentration of three types of immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA and IgM), two types of complement components (C3 and C4), and circulating immune complex (CIC) were measured respectively before and at 4h, 1d, 3d, and 5d after frostbite. At the same time, the tissue immune complex (TIC) in skeletal muscle and the contents of the red blood cell immune complex (RBC-IC) were also observed and then was the red blood cell immune adherence activity (RCIA).

RESULTSSerum IgG concentration decreased rapidly to the lowest level at 4 h after frostbite IgA concentration dropped to the nadir on 1 day after freezing. Decreases of both immunoglobulins were maintained during the 5 days after frostbite. The fate of both C3 and C4 were the same as those immunoglobulins. Freezing had rather less effect on IgM level. CIC concentration in serum, expressed as the percent of prefreezing increased rapidly and to the zenith on the 3 days post-freezing. By immunofluorescence microscopy, thin continuous linear pattern (IgG) was demonstrated along the SM on the first day post-freezing. Granular and nodular deposits (IgG) appeared along the SM as the time proceeded after frostbite. RBC-IC contents, expressed as the erythrocyte IC rosette rate, increased significantly and to the zenith on the 3 d post-freezing, while RCIA depressed to the nadir at the same time.

CONCLUSIONThe freezing frostbite is an immune complex related disease which have not been reported by others before.

Animals ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; analysis ; immunology ; Frostbite ; blood ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin A ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin G ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin M ; immunology ; Immunoglobulins ; immunology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

To confirm local production of IgE, and evaluate role of immunoglobulins on eosinophil activation in nasal polyp (NP) tissue, we measured IgG, IgA, secretory IgA(sIgA), total (tIgE) and specific IgE (sIgE) to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus(DP) by ELISA in NP tissue homogenates from 51 subjects. They were classified according to skin reactivity to DP: group I, 15 highly atopic subjects; group II, 18 weakly atopic subjects; and group III, 18 non-atopic subjects. Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) level was measured by CAP system. Highest level of DP-sIgE was noted in group I, followed by group II and III (p<0.05). Nine (60%) of group I and 4 (22%) of group II subjects had detectable level of DP-sIgE with no significant differences in IgA, sIgA, and IgG. All of NP tissue had eosinophilic infiltration with no significant difference in activated eosinophil count or ECP level among 3 groups. A significant correlation was noted between EG2+ cell count and tIgE (r=0.55, p<0.05), and DP-sIgE level (r=0.60, p<0.05). A significant correlation was also noted between ECP and IgG (r=0.51, p<0.05) and DP-sIgE level (r=0.47, p<0.05) with no significant correlation with IgA or sIgA. These results suggest that DP-sIgE was detectable in NP tissue from weakly atopic subjects as well as highly atopic subjects. IgG and sIgE may have potential roles in eosinophil degranulation in NP tissue.
Blood Proteins/analysis ; Cell Degranulation/immunology ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus/immunology ; Eosinophil Granule Proteins ; Eosinophils/immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A/analysis/immunology ; Immunoglobulin E/analysis/immunology ; Immunoglobulin G/analysis/immunology ; Immunoglobulins/analysis/*immunology ; Nasal Polyps/*immunology/pathology ; *Ribonucleases

We report a case of glomerular disease with both mesangial IgA and subepithelial IgG deposits in the allograft kidney. The patient was a 36 year-old man who had received a renal allograft 1 year previously. Fifteen days before admission, he discovered a microscopic hematuria without clinical evidences of allograft rejection. Light microscopy showed diffuse increase of mesangial matrix without mesangial cell proliferation. Capillary walls were diffusely and mildly thickened. Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated both granular deposits of IgA in the mesangium and IgG along the capillary walls. On electron microscopy, electron-dense deposits were identified not only in the mesangium but also on the epithelial side of the glomerular basement membrane.
Adult ; Case Report ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA/*immunology/pathology ; Human ; Immunoglobulin A/*analysis ; Immunoglobulin G/analysis ; Kidney/*immunology/pathology ; Kidney Transplantation/*immunology ; Male ; Transplantation, Homologous

OBJECTIVETo determine the effect of early enteral nutrition (EN) on immune function of the patients after operation for severe abdominal trauma.

METHODSFourty patients who underwent operation for severe abdominal trauma were randomly divided into two groups, and received an early enteral nutrition (EN group, n=20) through jejunal nutritional tube from postoperative day 1, or parental nutrition (PN group, n=20) for 7 days. C3, IgA, IgM, IgG and CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+ of the two groups patients were detected on the day before operation and the postoperative day 1 and 8. The infection complications were compared.

RESULTSAfter 7 days, the levels of C3+, IgA, IgG, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+/CD8+ in EN group increased significantly compared with those in PN group (P< 0.05). The incidence of infection was 10% in EN group, while 30% in PN group (P< 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEarly enteral nutrition can improve immune function and decrease postoperative infection after operation for severe abdominal trauma.

Abdominal Injuries ; immunology ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adult ; CD3 Complex ; analysis ; CD4 Antigens ; analysis ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; CD8 Antigens ; analysis ; Complement C3 ; analysis ; Enteral Nutrition ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; analysis ; Immunoglobulin G ; analysis ; Male ; Postoperative Period ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Most immune reactions related to transfusion and transplantation are caused by IgM ABO antibodies. However, IgG also plays an important role in these reactions. Therefore, a method to measure antibodies, including IgG, is necessary. We investigated ABO antibody titers of healthy individuals using a column agglutination technique (CAT) with or without dithiothreitol (DTT) and compared them with titers obtained using a conventional tube method. METHODS: Among healthy adults who underwent a medical examination, 180 individuals (60 with blood group A, 60 with group B, and 60 with group O) were selected. Antibody titrations were performed using the immediate spin (IS) tube, anti-human globulin (AHG) tube, and CAT with or without DTT methods. RESULTS: Higher median values of anti-B and anti-A titers in groups A and B individuals, respectively, were obtained using the IS method than using the AHG method. Higher values for group O individuals were obtained using the AHG method. Higher median titers of anti-B and anti-A in group O individuals were obtained using CAT without DTT than using the AHG method. Median titers of anti-B and anti-A in all blood groups were higher in CAT without DTT than in CAT with DTT, especially for group O individuals. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend CAT with and without DTT for titration of anti-A and anti-B, especially in group O individuals, to provide more sensitive results that include IgG data. Adjustment of insurance coverage of fees associated with antibody titration might be necessary, considering the actual cost of reagents and personnel.
ABO Blood-Group System/*immunology ; Adult ; *Agglutination Tests/instrumentation ; Antibodies/*analysis/immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged