Serum levels of immunoglobulins

Di Franco P, Brai M, Misiano G, Piazza AM, Giorgi G, Cossarizza A, Franceschi C. Genetic and environmental influences on serum levels of immunoglobulins and complement components in monozygotic and dizygotic twins. J Clin Lab Immunol 1988 27 5-10. 

Munson, D., Franco, D., Arbeter, A., Velez, H., and Vitale, J. J. (1974) Serum levels of immunoglobulins, cell-mediated immunity, and phagocytosis in protein-calorie malnutrition. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 27 625. 

Increased serum levels of both IgG and IgiM have been reported in patients with chronic schistosomiasis (AlO). There seems to be a close relationship between the S. mansoni egg output per day and the level of the immunoglobulins in the sera of infected persons, and Bassily et al. (B2) reported that those patients who had uncomplicated S. mansoni infection (Group I) with egg output amounting to 36.3 thousands per... 

Thus, human exposure to PCBs in Japan (Yusho accident) and China has been associated with increased respiratory infections and decreased levels of immunoglobulins in serum. In animals exposed to these compounds, there is atrophy of both primary and secondary lymphoid organs, lower circulating immunoglobulins, and decreased antibody responses after exposure to antigens. Similarly, the exposure of both humans and farm animals to polybrominated biphenyls, which occurred in Michigan in 1973, resulted in depressed immune responses. 

Ohashi Y, Nakai Y, Sakamoto H, Ohno Y, Sugiura Y, Okamoto H, Tanaka A, Kakinoki Y, Kishimoto K, Hayashi M Serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis before and after immunotherapy. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 1996 77 203-208. Ohashi Y, Nakai Y, Tanaka A, Kakinoki Y, Washio Y, Kato A, Masamoto T, Sakamoto H, Yamada K Ten-year follow-up study of allergen-specific immunoglobulin E and immunoglobulin G4, soluble interleukin-2 receptor, interleukin-4, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in serum of patients on immunotherapy for perennial allergic rhinitis. Scand J Immunol 1998 47 167-178. 

Polyclonal increases in serum immunoglobulins are the normal response to infections. IgG response predominates in autoimmune responses IgA in skin, gut, respiratory, and renal infections and IgM in primary viral infections and bloodstream parasites, such as malaria. Chronic bacterial infections may cause an increase in serum levels of all immunoglobulins. In such cases, estimations of the individual immunoglobulins seldom provide more information than protein electrophoresis. They are of value, however, in the differential diagnosis of liver disease and of intrauterine infections. In primary biliary cirrhosis, the IgM level is greatly increased in chronic active hepatitis, IgG and sometimes IgM are increased and in portal cirrhosis, IgA and sometimes IgG are increased. In intrauterine infections, production of IgM by the fetus increases, and the IgM level in umbilical cord blood is increased. Estimations of IgE are used in the management of asthma and other allergic conditions, especially in children. 

The serum level of an immunoglobulin results from the input from plasma cells, and its subsequent distribution and rate of removal. Several... 

Dibenzodioxins, including TCDD (dioxin), have been demonstrated to cause severe thymic atrophy with resulting effects on the immune system. The target seems to be the epithelial cells in the thymus, and it is interesting that thymus cells contain the TCDD receptor. Thymic atrophy correlates with the presence of this receptor, and other compounds which compete with TCDD for this receptor also cause thymic atrophy. The basis of the toxicity of TCDD to the thymus may be an effect on T-cell maturation and differentiation. The result of exposure of animals to TCDD is depressed antibody responses, increased susceptibility to infectious agents, and depressed T-cell function. In humans exposed to TCDD occupationally, decreased serum levels of some immunoglobulins and depressed lymphocyte responses to mitogens were reported. 

The serum level of IgG regulates its own rate of catabolism (Fahey et al., 1965 Lippincott et al., 1960 Solomon et al., 1963). At high serum levels, the tn2 may fall to a lower limit of approximately 11 days (FTR increases to 185). In the event of low levels of IgG, the survival time may double or triple. This concentration-catabolic effect of IgG is not affected by the concentration of the other immunoglobulins. Furthermore, in contrast to IgG, the half-lives of IgA and IgM are independent of their serum levels (Barth et al., 1964 Strober et al., 1968), while IgE and possibly IgD appear to have the reverse effect, i.e., higher serum levels promote longer survival times (Wells, 1976). 

The quantitative study of the immune response to SE at cellular level has demonstrated that the increase in the number of cells synthesizing anti SE antibody (RFC) represents only 2-3% of the total enlargement of the spleen cell population produced by the intravenous injection of this immunogen . This phenomenon implies modifications of the serum concentration of immunoglobulins in the two lines, particularly after immunization. In fact, these differences have been found, as demonstrated in the data of Table 5.9 where the serum levels of the various classes and sub-classes of Ig in High and Low responders are indicated ... 

It is present at serum levels between 0.5 and 3mgmH but higher concentrations are found in secretions. There are two subclasses of this immunoglobulin. 

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