Naturally Occurring Human Antiglobulins with Specificity for γE

Ralph C. Williams; Robert W. Griffiths; Jean D. Emmons; Richard C. Field

doi:10.1172/JCI106890

Naturally Occurring Human Antiglobulins with Specificity for γE

Ralph C. Williams Jr., Robert W. Griffiths, Jean D. Emmons, and Richard C. Field

Published April 1, 1972 - More info

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Abstract

Human sera have been examined for antibodies with specific reactivity for γE using the tanned cell hemagglutination test. Cells tanned with three different γE myeloma proteins provided a reproducible test system. Inhibition of agglutination reactions by γE proteins, but not by γG, γA, γM, or γD confirmed the specificity of these reactions. 8.5% of 304 serial serum samples obtained from miscellaneous hospitalized patients showed clear-cut anti-γ-globulins with specificity for γE. In most of these instances no definite clinical history of concomitant allergic disorders could be obtained. 53% of 73 patients with well-established allergic disorders (hay fever, extrinsic asthma) showed serum anti-γ-globulins with reactivity for γE. Some patients studied before and after desensitization to Bermuda grass allergen showed an increase in titer or a conversion from negative to positive reactions for anti-γE antibodies following several month courses of progressive desensitization. Gradient and gel filtration studies indicated that anti-γE globulins were 19S γM in all instances. No clear correlation was noted between quantitative serum γE levels and titer of anti-γE antibodies.

19S serum fractions with anti-γE antibody activity did not release histamine from normal human peripheral blood leukocytes, whereas specific rabbit anti-γE antisera consistently induced leukocytic histamine release. Moreover, macroglobulin fractions with anti-γE activity did not block allergen-specific leukocyte histamine release induced by in vitro leukocyte challenge with allergens such as Bermuda grass and leukocytes from allergic donors. In some instances 19S human serum fractions with anti-γE activity appeared to potentiate histamine release when incubated concomitantly with specific allergen and leukocytes from allergic individuals.