Structure and Biological Functions of Human IgD

Abstract

Serum IgD levels were quantified in a large population of individuals with a variety of atopic and/or pulmonary disorders. As a group, patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) have markedly elevated (5.03 mg%) serum IgD when compared with serum IgD levels from either normal individuals (2.17 mg%) or patients with a variety of pulmonary and/or atopic disorders. Evidence is presented suggesting that the increased serum IgD levels in ABPA patients are not necessarily related to a hyper-IgE or panhyperimmunoglobulinemia common to most of all these patients, but is rather associated with an additional quantitative difference in the immunological responsiveness of some of these individuals. An understanding of why these patients produce supranormal levels of IgD may reveal the basis for inducing an IgD antibody response and subsequently help in elucidating the biological function(s) of IgD.

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA): Studies on the general and specific humoral response

“…The finding of elevated levels of serum IgD is consistent with previous observations that this immunoglobulin tends to be elevated in patients afflicted with atopic disorders (18). A recent study uncovered a striking elevation of serum IgD in approximately 50 per cent of patients with ABPA, Mycetomal and invasive forms of aspergillosis did not demonstrate this abnormality (21). Further work with immunoadsorbant techniques should reveal the specificity of these IgD antibodies.…”

Measles virus-specific IgD antibodies in patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

“…Immunoglobulin Quantitation. Serum IgD levels were measured by radial immunodiffusion in agarose gel with anti-6 antiserum as previously described (20,21). (5).…”