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Quantitative measurements of immunoglobulins E, A and G were made in tracheobronchial secretion and serum of thirty-four patients in association with bronchoscopy. Measurable quantities of all three immunoglobulins were found in both secretion and serum in all patients, except in one person, in whom IgA was found neither in the secretion nor the serum, and in another person in whom no measurable IgG was found in the secretion. Calculations indicated that all immunoglobulins were produced locally in the tracheo-bronchial mucosa. This applied especially to IgA and IgE, of which 84 and 73% respectively, were calculated to have been produced locally. Quantitative differences between the three immunoglobulins were also apparent between different groups of patients. The number of patients studied is too small, however, for definite conclusions to be drawn in this respect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The serum immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE were determined together with indirect haemagglutination test in normal subjects and in patients with intestinal and extra-intestinal amoebiasis. The IgG level in intestinal amoebiasis was found to be significantly higher than that of extra-intestinal. Although in intestinal amoebiasis, the concentrations of IgE were comparatively higher than extra-intestinal group, the IgE levels in both groups of amoebiasis were seen to be much higher than that of the normal group. No significant difference was found in the IgA and IgM levels between the three groups of cases. Indirect haemagglutination test was positive in both intestinal and extra-intestinal amoebiasis, but negative in normal subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The frequency of cryoglobulinaemia was statistically significant in acute proliferative endocapillary glomerulonephritis, in membrana-proliferative glomerulonephritis and in lupus glomerulonephritis. They all have in common glomerular cellular proliferation and glomerular deposits of C3. The cryoglobulin's in most of these cases contain IgG and IgM. Except for acute proliferative endocapillary glomerulonephritis, a rather good correlation was observed between the cryoglobulin constituents and the immunoglobulins present in the glomerular tuft. Rheumatoid factor was very rarely found in the serum of these patients. A cryoglobulin characterized by the presence of the three immunoglobulins was also found in cirrhosis of the liver with or without proven glomerulonephritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane-associated immunoglobulins of peripheral blood lymphocytes were studied by indirect immunofluorescence for γ, α, μ, κ, and λ chains in healthy subjects and patients with immunologic disease. In healthy subjects, heavy chains were found on 30.7% of lymphocytes (γ 15.3%, α 7.2% and μ 8.2%) and light chains on 32.8% of cells (κ 20.4% and λ 12.4%). Patients with humoral immune deficiencies had fewer immunoglobulin-bearing cells; sarcoidosis or thymectomy patients had normal or decreased immunoglobulin-bearing lymphocytes; cells with light chains were fewer than those with heavy chains on their lymphocytes. In some cases, normal levels of serum immunoglobulins were found in the absence of the corresponding immunoglobulin-bearing cells, and in others normal immunoglobulin-bearing lymphocytes were present in the absence of the corresponding serum immunoglobulins. These data suggest that (1) immunoglobulin-bearing lymphocytes in blood do not reflect the condition of immunoglobulin-synthesizing cells in peripheral lymphoid tissues, and (2) in certain immunologic disorders, either some B-lymphocytes do not synthesize immunoglobulins, or immunoglobulins are in such a situation that the whole molecule or part of the molecule is not visualized by current methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral blood lymphocytes of twenty normal controls and twelve patients with primary immunodeficiencies were examined for surface membrane Ig and receptors for C3 complement (B cell markers) and for spontaneous rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes (T cell markers). In patients with defects in T cell function no lymphocytes forming spontaneous rosettes were seen. In patients with B cell deficiency they were normal or increased. Lymphocytes with membrane immunoglobulins were normal in patients with T cell defect and absent in patients with severe agammaglobulinaemia. Lymphocytes with receptors for C3 complement were increased in patients with T defect and normal in patients with most other forms of immunodeficiency studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study on the synthesis of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, and IgE), secretory component and complement in normal and pathological skin and in the adjacent mucous membranes (I.e. conjunctiva, nasal, oral and vaginal mucosa) is reported. The results are based on the culture of tissue samples in a medium with two radioactive amino acids and the detection of synthesized proteins by autoradiography of the immunoelectrophoretic pattern of the culture fluid, except in the case of IgE for which the Ouchlerlony technique was used. The results indicate that the normal skin does not synthesize immunoglobulins, whereas normal mucous membranes produce IgG and IgA. In the lesions of various skin diseases immunoglobulins are synthesized, mainly IgG but sometimes also IgA and IgE. The cells responsible for the production of immunoglobulins are plasma cells and lymphoid cells present in the skin lesions and mucous membranes. Synthesis of the free secretory component could be demonstrated only in certain mucous membranes (i.e. conjunctiva, nasal mucosa. and oral mucosa). Complement (C3) synthesis was found in normal skin, mucous membranes (i.e. conjunctiva, nasal and oral mucosa), and in the lesions of such skin diseases as discoid lupus erythematosus. (bullous) pemphigoid, dermatitis herpetiformis, malignant rcticulosis, eczema and lichen planus. Complement production was also demonstrated in allergic skin reactions (i.e. tissue from allergic-positive patch tests, positive Mantoux tests and drug eruptions), but no immunoglobulin synthesis was detected in these lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scrum immunoglobulins, complement component levels and autoantibodies were measured in patients presenting with acute and chronic liver disease. One-hundred and seventeen patients were studied and the results of the immunological estimations were found to be of value in the differential diagnosis of liver disease when considered in conjunction with clinical and other laboratory findings. The results of the study are of interest in discussing the possible pathogenesis of liver disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lymphocytes with surface-bound immunoglobulins (B-lymphocytes) were detected in cord blood of normal babies by means of immunofluorescent staining of viable cells. The mean value of Ig-positive lymphocytes was 14.3% (range 5-33%). IgM was found on the highest percentage of lymphocytes (mean 9.7%), but IgG was also found in a considerable proportion (mean 7.9%). IgA was usually not demonstrable, IgG2 was the dominating IgG subclass (mean 7.3%). The data indicate that the Ig on any one cell belongs to a single class or IgG subclass. Very few or no lymphocytes were stained with antiserum against the C-terminal half of the IgG Fc fragment. Ig classes and the four IgG subclasses were usually found on a higher percentage of lymphocytes in the child than in the mother investigated at delivery. The presence of B-lymphocytes in cord blood, together with a marked lack of immunoglobulin-producing plasma cells at birth, may be explained by the B-lymphocytes not yet having differentiated to plasma cells in the absence of antigenic stimuli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibodies in human sera against four different antigens of human spermatozoa discovered by means of an indirect two-layer immunofluorescence technique (IFT) were characterized by determination of the class of immunoglobulins to which they belonged. A three-layer IFT using monospecific antisera against human IgG, IgA or IgM as the second layer was employed together with fractionation of sera on Sephadex G-200 or DEAE-cellulose followed by testing of the concentrated pools in a two-layer IFT. The study revealed that antibodies against the antigen in the front part of the acrosome were primarily IgM and those against the antigen in the tail primarily IgG. Antibodies against antigens in the equatorial segment and the postnuclear cap showed a varying predominance of these two immunoglobulins. Spermatozoal antibody as IgA was found only in small amounts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of experiments were designed to identify cytologically the cell endowed with immunologic memory and to depict morphologically the cellular events that occurred during the anamnestic response. With the use of radioactive labels and autoradiography at the light and electron microscopic levels, the concatenated phenomena from activation of memory cells to production of antibody could be followed. The memory cell was found to be a lymphocyte which, when activated by specific antigen, enlarged and transformed. into either a blast cell or an immature plasma cell. Accompanying this transformation was a boost in proliferative activity of blast and immature plasma cells. This augmented mitotic activity was significantly greater than the level determined in control situations. Following the proliferation among labelled blast and immature cells, maximal labelling occurred in temporal sequence among plasma cells and large lymphocytes and finally among small lymphocytes. Antibody-forming cells were detected chiefly among lymphocytes and plasma cells and increased over the 4 days during which lymphocytes and plasma cells were differentiating From precursor immature elements. The primary response to antigen simulated in many respects the secondary response, but at a significantly lower level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improvements have been made in a localized haemolysis in gel replica assay developed previously. The technique is designed to show if an individual antibody producing cell releases antibody of one or more classes. The techniques can also be used to indicate the specificity of antibodies produced by individual cells by using two different antigens in the test system. In experiments where both slides of a slide-pair are untreated or treated identically, and 100% coincidence of plaques is expected, the technique has been shown to detect about 95% coincidence, Pairs of slides treated differently to reveal plaques due to antibodies of different classes show a mean of about 3.5% coincident plaques. This `background' of coincidence which it is thought is not due to `double-producers', is one of the limiting factors of the technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]