Autoantibodies of the IgM Class against a Human Myeloma Protein IgE(DES). I. Occurrence

Abstract

We report on the natural occurrence of human serum antibodies with specificity for a human monoclonal myeloma IgE(DES). These antibodies were of the IgM class, based on their susceptibility to reduction, sedimentation in sucrose gradients, gel filtration and inhibition of agglutination by anti-IgM antiserum. Auto-antibody levels were studied in several groups of patients by particle-counting immunoassay using latex particles to which purified monoclonal IgE(DES) was coupled. Only sera of patients suffering from parasitosis had significantly higher levels (p < 0.0005) than those of healthy blood donors. Cord sera had very low levels, followed by an age-dependent increase during early infancy. There was no relation (p > 0.10) between serum IgE and IgM antibody level. On the other hand, significant relations between IgM anti-IgE(DES) levels and serum IgM (p < 0.0005), serum IgA (p < 0.001) and serum IgG (p < 0.05) were observed suggesting that high levels were caused by or related to polyclonal activation of the immune system.

Anti‐ige autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus

“…IgM antibodies were found less frequently; it has been suggested that this may reflect antiidiotype formation (17). The possibility that the affinity for IgE myeloma involved idiotypic determinants in this study was rendered unlikely since the Fc fragment was considerably more antigenic than F(ab'),, although less so than the intact immunoglobulin.…”

Detection of IgG Subclass-Specific Anti-IgE Antibodies in Normal and Atopic Individuals

“…Following the first reports of IgM anti-lgE activity in the sera of atopic patients [1], a number of experi mental groups have detected similar autoantibody re sponses, although frequently high levels of normal reactivity were encountered [2,3]. It now appears that the ubiquitous IgM anti-lgE antibodies display a spe cificity for atypical myeloma IgE determinants, which in one instance have been pinpointed to the undegraded hinge region of IgE [4], In contrast, IgG anti-lgE antibodies occur more frequently and with significantly higher levels in atopic patients than among normal individuals without raised serum IgE levels [5][6][7][8].…”

“…It now appears that the ubiquitous IgM anti-lgE antibodies display a spe cificity for atypical myeloma IgE determinants, which in one instance have been pinpointed to the undegraded hinge region of IgE [4], In contrast, IgG anti-lgE antibodies occur more frequently and with significantly higher levels in atopic patients than among normal individuals without raised serum IgE levels [5][6][7][8]. The IgG autoantibodies are chiefly di rected against the Fc region of IgE and occur in some other non-atopic disorders with raised IgE, as for ex ample, hyper-IgE syndrome [3].…”

IgG Anti-IgE Autoantibodies in Immunoregulation

“…Most laboratories have used immunological meth ods to determine anti-IgE autoantibodies [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. We have modified such assays by using monoclonal an tibodies for the determination of autoantibodies in immune complexes [13][14][15].…”

“…Since the first description of anti-IgE autoantibod ies [1], several authors have confirmed this initial ob servation and demonstrated that a large proportion of human IgE exists in the form of immune complexes with anti-IgE autoantibodies [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. Despite the fact that xenogeneic anti-IgE antibodies have been used most widely for different experimental purposes in vitro and in vivo, it is still questionable whether such anti-IgE autoantibodies are of in vivo relevance [13,14], If anti-IgE autoantibodies are capable of per forming the same tasks in vivo, then they might, for example, constantly induce mediator release from ba sophils or mast cells.…”