Circulating immune complexes in bronchial asthma

Abstract

Summary Soluble immune complexes were detected by a solid phase Clq binding assay in forty‐two out of 106 well studied asthmatic patients (39.6%) and in eleven out of 145 age‐matched controls (8%; P < 0.01). Clinical significance of immune complexes has been evaluated by comparing the following parameters in patients with and without such complexes: age, sex, duration of disease, IgE‐mediated allergy (RAST, skin test), precipitins (Aspergillus, Candida albicans, Thermoactinomycetes), corticodependency, lung function tests, associated symptoms (hivernal bronchitis, urticaria, eczema, …), desenstization treatment, serum concentration in immunoglobulin in G, A, M and E. Immune complexes were found more frequently in female than in male patients. The prevalence of immune complexes was higher in patients treated by hyposensitization therapy and in cases with precipitating antibodies against thermophilic actinomycetes and Aspergillus.

Serum-Mediated Inhibition of Human Lymphocyte Fcγ-Receptors in Extrinsic and Intrinsic Bronchial Asthma

“…Increased levels of circulating immune complexes (CIC) have recently been reported in various atopic conditions such as rhinitis [3], eczema [12] and asthma [15]. These findings are, however, in conflict with those of others who failed to detect increased levels of CIC in atopy [6].…”

“…Some previous studies have demonstrated CIC in atopy [3,12,15] while others have failed to do so [6], This sort of conflict is not uncommon and it is now widely recognised that each in vitro assay for CIC will detect only a restricted type of complex [8]. The EArosette inhibition assay can detect IgG-containing im mune complexes which have the capacity to react with human lymphocytes possessing cell surface receptors for the reacted Fc of IgG, i.e.…”

The hazard of mould hyposensitization in children with asthma

“…{\97S) found no evidence of circulating immune complex (IC) in patients with rhinitis and asthma who received subcutaneous injections of mould house-dust mite and pollen extracts. In contrast, Stendardi, Delespesse and Debisschop (1980) reported that about 40% of patients, who were hyposensitized with different allergens, developed detectable IC in serum simultaneously with a rise in PSA-most common in patients immunized with mould extracts, and Cano et al (1977) found that atopic patients compared to normal subjects had significantly higher values of circulating IC. The highest mean-values were seen in patients who had been on long-term immunotherapy.…”

Study of immunological parameters in Farmer's lung

“…Girard, De Wurstemberger and Fernandes (1978) demonstrated IC by Ci,, binding assay in peripheral blood in 86-6% of seventy-one patients with clinical and laboratory evidence of allergic alveolitis; however, they found these IC also in about 25% ofthe asymptomatic exposed subjects and in 7-6% ofthe healthy controls. Stendardi (1980) and Massai et al (1981) demonstrated soluble IC by a solid-phase Ciq binding assay in asthmatic patients (39-6% and 6-4% respectively) and in healthy subjects (8% and 7 9%, respectively). In active sarcoidosis the IC reported ranges from 23% (Hedfors & Nordberg, 1974, platelet aggregation assay) to 58% (Johnson et ai, 1980, Ciq binding assay).…”

“…Immunocomplexes (IC) have been demonstrated in biopsy material (Wenzel, Emanuel & Gray, 1971;Ghose, Landrigan & Asif, 1974) and in the peripheral blood (Ghose, Landrigan & Asif, 1974;Geha, 1977;Girard, De Wurstenberger & Fernandes, 1978); IC, however, are also present in asymptomatic exposed subjects (Girard, De Wurstemberger & Fernandes, 1978) and in other bronchopulmonary syndromes (Stendardi, Delespesse & Debisschop, 1980;Dresin, 1981).…”