Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neuro-developmental disorders in early childhood which are defined by social difficulties, communication deficits and repetitive or restrictive interests and behaviours. The etiology of ASD remains poorly understood. Much research has shown that children with ASD suffer from immunological dysfunction. This article reviews the current research progress on immunological dysfunction in children with ASD, including abnormalities in immune cells, antibodies, complements, cytokines, major histocompatibility complex and their potential association with ASD, and explores the impacts of maternal immunological activation on the immune dysfunction of children with ASD.
Autoantibodies ; blood ; Child ; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive ; etiology ; immunology ; Cytokines ; physiology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; Lymphocytes ; 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

OBJECTIVETo study the possible role of human β-defensins 1 (Hbd-1) and immunoglobulins A, G and M (IgA, IgG and IgM) in the development of recurrent pneumonia by measuring serum concentrations of the above indexes in infants with recurrent pneumonia and healthy infants.

METHODSSerum samples were obtained from 35 healthy children and 35 children aged from 2 to 24 months with recurrent pneumonia. Serum Hbd-1 concentration was measured using ELISA. Serum IgA, IgG and IgM concentrations were measured by immunonephelometry. The correlation of hBD-1 with IgA, IgG and IgM was evaluated.

RESULTSThe serum concentration of hBD-1 in infants with recurrent pneumonia (14±11 μg/mL) was significantly lower than in controls (18±11 μg/mL) (P<0.05), as was the serum concentration of IgA in infants with recurrent pneumonia (1.3±0.6 g/L vs 1.5±0.8 g/L; P<0.05). The serum concentration of IgG in infants with recurrent pneumonia was also significantly lower than in controls (9±3 g/L vs 13±5 g/L; P<0.05). There were no linear relationships between serum Hbd-1 and IgA, IgG and IgM (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe serum levels of hBD-1, IgA and IgG decrease in infants with recurrent pneumonia, suggesting disorders in the immune defensive function of the respiratory tract, and this may be one of the immunity related reasons for recurrent pneumonia in infants. It is of great clinical value to measure serum levels of Hbd-1, IgA, IgG and IgM in infants with recurrent pneumonia.

Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; blood ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; Infant ; Male ; Pneumonia ; immunology ; Recurrence ; beta-Defensins ; blood

The changes in serum levels of immunoglobulins G, M and A of dairy and beef calves of well-managed herds were monitored from birth to 14 days post partum using single radial immunodiffusion. Serum levels of all three immunoglobulin classes reached its peak at 24 hours in both groups of calves after birth, at which time there were very high levels of each immunoglobulin present. The mean IgM and IgA levels of the two groups became same at 6 days and 8 days of age, respectively but the mean IgG level of beef calves was approximately twice that of dairy calves throughout the experiment.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cattle/*immunology ; Female ; Immunodiffusion/veterinary ; Immunoglobulin A/blood ; Immunoglobulin G/blood ; Immunoglobulin M/blood ; Immunoglobulins/*blood ; Male ; Pregnancy

Adult ; Altitude ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; Occupational Exposure ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology

OBJECTIVEThis study examined the changes of serum levels of interleukin (IL)-16, IL-18 and immunoglobulins and the correlation of serum IL-16, IL-18 levels and immunoglobulins in children with asthma and aimed to explore the role of IL-16, IL-18 and immunoglobulins in the pathogenesis of asthma.

METHODSThirty-four children with asthma and 21 age and gender-matched healthy children were enrolled in this study. The levels of IL-16, IL-18 and immunoglobulin E (IgE) were determined using ELISA. Immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) were detected by immunoturbidimetry.

RESULTSThe levels of IL-16, IL-18 and IgE in patients with asthma at both acute attack and convalescence stages were significantly higher than those in healthy controls. An increased IgG and a decreased IgA levels were found in asthmatic patients at the acute attack stage. There was a positive correlation between the IL-16 and IL-18 levels at both acute attack and convalescence stages of asthma (r=0.70, P < 0.01; r=0.70, P < 0.05). The IL-16 level correlated positively with the IgE level at acute attack stage of asthma (r=0.624, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIL-16, IL-18 and IgE may be involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. The immunologic imbalance exists in children with asthma at both acute attack and convalescence stages. Anti-allergic therapy should be administered through the acute attack to the convalescence stages of asthma.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; etiology ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; Interleukin-16 ; blood ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; Male

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

OBJECTIVETo Study T lymphocyte subsets, including T(H1) and T(H2) cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of children with mycoplasma pneumonia, understand immunopathogenesis and explore the possibility of immunotherapy of patients with mycoplasma pneumonia.

METHODSFresh peripheral blood samples of patients from two groups, group 1, mycoplasma pneumonia (MP) group (35 cases, 15 males and 20 females, age range 3 - 13 years, mean 9 years), and control group consisted of 28 healthy children (14 males and 14 females, age range 3 - 12 years, mean 7 years) were treated and run through the flow cytometry. The data were obtained by using Simultest IMK-Lymphocyte software and the percentage of CD(3)(+), CD(3)(+)CD(4)(+), CD(3)(+)CD(8)(+), CD(3)(-)CD(19)(+) and CD(3)(-)CD(16 + 56)(+) cells were counted. The percentage of T(H1) and T(H2) cells were gained through determination of intracellular cytokines IFN-gamma or IL-4 in CD(4)(+) cells by flow cytometry. The 35 patients with MP were hospitalized at our hospital. In addition to fever and cough, all the patents had abnormal X-ray findings and/or moist rale on auscultation of the lungs. The IgM antibody to Mycoplasma pneumoniae was positive in each patient. Immunoglobulins were measured, and PPD skin tests were performed in 30 out of the 35 patients with MP. T test and rank sum test by SPSS FOR WINDOWS 10.0 was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTSThe percentage of CD(3)(+) and CD(4)(+) T lymphocyte was 68.00 +/- 6.66 and 37.86 +/- 5.84, respectively, in MP group, and 63.71 +/- 7.92 and 34.54 +/- 6.23 in control group (P < 0.05). The percentage of T(H1) cells was 14.13 +/- 8.46 in patients and 20.77 +/- 6.89 in normal control group (P = 0.001). The percentage of NK cells was 15.57 +/- 12.16 and 20.39 +/- 9.64 in MP and control group (P < 0.01). The ratio of T(H1)/T(H2) in MP group was lower than that in control group (P < 0.05). However the percentage of CD(8), T(H2), B cells and CD(4)/CD(8) had no difference between the MP and control groups. The levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM in serum were normal in most of patients except for a few patients who had elevated IgA and IgM levels. The PPD skin tests were negative in 30 out of 35 patients.

CONCLUSIONIn this study a higher percentage of CD(3)(+), CD(4)(+) T lymphocyte and lower percentage of T(H1), NK cells in PBMC of patients with mycoplasma pneumonia were found. The ratio of T(H1) and T(H2) cells in patients was also lower. None of thirty patients had positive PPD skin tests. Unbalanced cell-mediated immunity with a tendency toward T(H2) existed in patients with MP. Therefore, immunomodulators may be useful in treatment of mycoplasma pneumonia.

Adolescent ; CD3 Complex ; blood ; CD4 Antigens ; blood ; CD8 Antigens ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; Male ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; blood ; immunology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; cytology ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

We evaluated the inflammatory indices according to the fever duration in children with Kawasaki disease (KD), and determined duration when the inflammatory processes in KD reach their peak. Children with KD (n=152) were classified into 7 groups according to fever duration: at the third day or earlier (n=20), fourth (n=33), fifth (n=46), sixth (n=15), seventh (n=15), eighth (n=9), and at the ninth day or later after fever onset (n= 14). The levels of various laboratory indices were determined 3 times: before, 24 hr and 7 days after intravenous immunoglobulin administration (2 g/kg). WBC and neutrophil counts, and C-reactive protein level were the highest at the sixth day. Levels of hemoglobin, albumin, and high density lipoprotein cholestrol were the lowest at the sixth day. Although these indices were not significant statistically between groups, the indices showed either bell-shaped or U-shaped distribution of which peak or trench were at the sixth day. These findiugs showed that the inflammatory processes in KD reach peak on the sixth day of fever onset. This finding is important because a higher single-dose intravenous immunoglobulin treatment before the peak day may help reduce the coronary artery lesions in KD.
Child, Preschool ; Coronary Vessels/pathology ; Female ; *Fever/blood ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/therapeutic use ; Infant ; *Inflammation/blood/immunology ; Male ; *Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome/blood/immunology/pathology/therapy ; Time Factors

BACKGROUND: In the past, ABO incompatibility was an absolute contraindication for solid organ transplantation. However, multiple recent trials have suggested strategies for overcoming the reactions between graft antigens and recipient antibodies that cause graft rejection. In this study, we determined the usefulness of plasma exchange (PE) for removing anti-A/B antibodies that cause hyperacute/acute humoral graft rejection in patients undergoing ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation. METHODS: In our study, 12 patients underwent ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation. All recipients received pre-transplantation conditioning by PE or intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) administration. After pre-transplantation conditioning, anti-A/B antibody titers were evaluated, and transplantation was performed when the titer was below 1:8. To assess the transplantation outcome, anti-A/B antibody titers, creatinine level, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and proteinuria levels were measured. RESULTS: Anti-A/B antibody titers were below 1:8 in all patients at the time of transplantation. eGFR measured on post-transplant day 14 showed that 10 patients had immediate recovery of graft function, while 2 patients had slow recovery of graft function. Short-term outcomes of ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation (measured as creatinine levels) after reducing anti-A/B antibody titers were similar to those of ABO-compatible kidney transplantation. After transplantation, the anti-A/B antibody titers were below 1:8 in 7 patients, but the remaining 5 patients required post-transplantation PE and IVIG treatment to prevent antigen-antibody reactions. CONCLUSIONS: With the increasing demand for kidney donations, interest in overcoming the ABO incompatibility barrier has increased. PE may be an important breakthrough in increasing the availability of kidneys for transplantation.
ABO Blood-Group System/*immunology ; Adult ; *Blood Group Incompatibility/immunology ; Creatinine/blood ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Graft Rejection/therapy ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/therapeutic use ; Isoantibodies/immunology/physiology ; Kidney Transplantation/*immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Plasma Exchange ; Proteinuria ; Transplantation Conditioning ; Transplantation Immunology