Measurement of Antibody-Producing Capacity in Man

Abstract

Antibody-producing capacity in man was assessed in various diseases, including chronic bronchitis and infections, after immunization with monomeric flagellin from Salmonella adelaide. For each disease group studied, results were compared with those for controls matched for age and sex and derived from a hospital population with miscellaneous illnesses not affecting the immunological system. A previous study showed that the humoral immune response in disease was less than that in health; in the present study, patients with chronic bronchitis, infections, peptic ulcer, ischaemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic alcoholism and postgastrectomy states exemplified this general impairment of antibody-producing capacity in disease. Moreover, in chronic bronchitis, infections and multiple myeloma the response to flagellin was significantly more impaired than in other diseases. Explanations for this immunodepression associated with chronic bronchitis and infections were prolonged antigenic stimulation, antigenic competition, or effects of antibiotics; alternatively there may be predisposition to infection in patients with an impaired antibody-producing capacity.

Treatment of a Case of Factor VIII Inhibitor in an Elderly Female

“…Azothiaprine was used with success by R iz z a [1968], but this failed with others [M atth ew s and M a tth ew s, 1964;M ason, 1969;Sherman et al, 1969]. Azothiaprine does not suppress anti body responses in man [Lee et al, 1971], whereas cyclophosphamide does suppress both primary and secondary antibody responses. This latter drug has been used with some success by G lueck [1965].…”

Impairment of Jones‐Mote Hypersensitivity and Specific Antibody Response against Depolymerized Flagellin in Lepromatous Leprosy

“…Samples of blood were collecietl before and 3 weeks after injection of flagellin, and ihese sera were separated and stored al --20 C, .Assesstiient of cetl-niediated immune response. 5 [ig of llagellin in 0,1 ml was injeeied intradermally into the (brearm of twenty-eight conlrol subjecls and twelve lepromaious paiients [10]. and they were followed for any general or local reaction.…”

“…diabetes mellitus. peptic ulcer, chronic alcoholism, multiple myeloma and postgastrectomy state (10] and also in patients with autoitnmune diseases [II]. Leprotnatous leprosy is almost invariably characterized by a lack of demonstrable T lymphocytes capable of responding to antigens of Myeobacterium teprae [7] and production of large quantitites of not protective circulatory antibodies against M. leprae [1].…”