- Email: [email protected]
Discrepancies between systemic anaphylaxis and the Schultz-Dale reaction
VOLUME 41 NUMBER 3
Abstracts
23
globulin and gamma-M globulin were normal or elevated resulting in total gamma globulin levels that were normal or near normal on routine electrophoresis. In one patient, gamma-G3 subclass was increased and gamma-Gl, G2, and G4 were decreased, while another patient had normal gamma-G4 and absent or barely detectable Gl, G2, and G3. The third patient displayed normal gamma-G4 and G3 with decreased gamma-Gl and G2. Genetic typing of gamma globulins in the patients' families showed no anomolous inheritance. When the patients were given 0.5 ml. of fluid tetanus toxoid, inguinal lymph node biopsies examined 7 days later were found to contain nearly normal lymph node architecture. In addition, one patient had a normal antibody response 10 days after the immunization and two did not. The sera of 2 patients enhanced phagocytosis of E. infiuensa, whereas one had only 30 per cent of normal activity. These patients have been free from infection with gamma globulin replacement therapy. J. 8.
Intrinsic-factor antibodies in absence of pernicious anemia. Eose, M., Chanarim, I., Doriach, D., Brostoff, J., and Ardeman, S.: Lancet 2: 9,1970. The serum of fifty-five per cent of patients with pernicious anemia (PA) contains antibodies against human gastric intrinsic factor ( I F ) . These antibodies may also be found in gastric secretions or in the wall of the stomach and may contribute to the development of vitamin B,2 deficiency. Some patients with I F antibodies show no signs of pernicious anemia. A group of 23 patients with thjrroid disease and I F antibody were observed over 3 to 7 years to see if in time they developed pernicious anemia. They were assayed for serum B,2 levels and gastric secretion as well as I F antibody titers. Of the 23 patients studied, early PA was found in twelve. Eleven who absorbed Bjz normally were observed continuously, and after each re-examination there was no apparent change in blood picture. These patients had thyrotoxic disease and a high frequency of familial autoimmunity. The I F antibody was not present in gastric secretions of this group and this may account for their failure to develop PA during the period of observation. J. B.
Anaphylaxis Discrepancies between systemic anaphylaxis and the Schultz-Dale reaction.
Cirstea, M.: Int. Arch. AUerg. 38:113,1970. Guinea pigs were sensitized to rabbit y-globulin (R.GG), bovine y-globulin (EGG), human y-globulin (HGG), or ovalbumin with 10 mg. of protein intraperitoneally and 5 mg. intramuscularly in both hind legs. The injections were repeated in 48 hours. Half of the animals in each group were challenged for systemic anaphylaxis by intracardiac administration of 10 mg. of antigen 3 weeks after the first sensitizing doses. The remaining animals were used for Schultz-Dale experiments. Two ileum strips from each animal were examined. A rabbit antiovalbumin serum and anti-BGG serum were prepared without adjuvants. Equivalent doses of the two sera with regard to systemic anaphylaxis were established and used for Schultz-Dale experiments in passively sensitized guinea pigs. Schultz-Dale contractions were recorded for 10 minutes on a kymograph. Washings of the bath were rigorously standardized. The relaxation rate was calculated as the percentage of "relaxation area" from the theoretical area of "null relaxation." The "theoretical area of null relaxation" was "the area delineated at the bottom by the prolongation of the initial base line, at the top by the horizontal line passing through the peak of the contraction curve, and on the left and right by the verticals traced at the beginning of the contraction and through the final ten-minute point." The "relaxation area" was the "area delineated at the bottom of the contraction curve, at the top by the horizontal line traced from the peak of the contraction curve, and on the right by the above mentioned vertical."
24
Abstracts
The Journal of ALLERGY MARCH 1971
The mortality rates in animals sensitized to EGG and ovalbumin were equal and far exceeded those in the animals sensitized with BGG and HGO. The relaxation rate induced by BGG was significantly lower than that induced by ovalbumin. Calculations of the relaxation rates with HG
Ophthalmology and otolaryngology Immunoglobulins in nasal polyp fluid. Donovan, R., Johansson, S. G. 0., Bennich, H., and Soothill, J. F . : Int. Arch. Allerg. 37:154,1970. Nasal polypectomies were done on 29 patients, and the polyps removed were then subjected to sectioning and centrifuging to produce a yellow fluid. At the time of operation, blood was taken for examination of the serum. A single diifusion technique was used to estimate the various proteins and immunoglobulins in the fluids and serum. These were also analyzed for I g E concentration by the radioimmunoabsorbent technique. The concentration of albumin and a macroglobulin (proteins which are assumed to be inert for this system) were present in slightly lower concentrations in the fluid than in the serum, indicating that poorly selective filtration from serum into polyps had occurred. The nasal polyp concentrations of IgG, IgA, and I g E were moderately higher than the serum values, indicating that these immunoglobulins are produced locally in considerable quantity. I g M values were not very diiferent between serum and polyp fluid, probably indicating less local production of IgM. The results suggested that the production rate of IgG, IgA, and IgM may be related, but that of I g E appears to be independent. Persons with a history of positive skin tests and specific provocation tests were designated as a reaginic group, and they showed high measurable serum levels of I g E . However, local production of I g E did not appear to be related to the clinical entity of reaginicity, since the nonreaginic group had levels of I g E as high as did the reaginic group in the polyp fluid. I t was postulated that reagin was produced locally in sufficient quantity to sensitize the noses of the former group but not enough to sensitize the skin. One patient with a purulent nasal discharge and a polymorphonuclear infiltrate in the polyp had the highest concentration of IgG and IgA. Polyps with large amounts of eosinophil infiltrate had significantly higher concentrations of a macroglobulin, suggesting greater capillary leakiness than those polyps predominantly infiltrated with plasma cells and IjTuphocytes. M. C.
Abstracts
23
globulin and gamma-M globulin were normal or elevated resulting in total gamma globulin levels that were normal or near normal on routine electrophoresis. In one patient, gamma-G3 subclass was increased and gamma-Gl, G2, and G4 were decreased, while another patient had normal gamma-G4 and absent or barely detectable Gl, G2, and G3. The third patient displayed normal gamma-G4 and G3 with decreased gamma-Gl and G2. Genetic typing of gamma globulins in the patients' families showed no anomolous inheritance. When the patients were given 0.5 ml. of fluid tetanus toxoid, inguinal lymph node biopsies examined 7 days later were found to contain nearly normal lymph node architecture. In addition, one patient had a normal antibody response 10 days after the immunization and two did not. The sera of 2 patients enhanced phagocytosis of E. infiuensa, whereas one had only 30 per cent of normal activity. These patients have been free from infection with gamma globulin replacement therapy. J. 8.
Intrinsic-factor antibodies in absence of pernicious anemia. Eose, M., Chanarim, I., Doriach, D., Brostoff, J., and Ardeman, S.: Lancet 2: 9,1970. The serum of fifty-five per cent of patients with pernicious anemia (PA) contains antibodies against human gastric intrinsic factor ( I F ) . These antibodies may also be found in gastric secretions or in the wall of the stomach and may contribute to the development of vitamin B,2 deficiency. Some patients with I F antibodies show no signs of pernicious anemia. A group of 23 patients with thjrroid disease and I F antibody were observed over 3 to 7 years to see if in time they developed pernicious anemia. They were assayed for serum B,2 levels and gastric secretion as well as I F antibody titers. Of the 23 patients studied, early PA was found in twelve. Eleven who absorbed Bjz normally were observed continuously, and after each re-examination there was no apparent change in blood picture. These patients had thyrotoxic disease and a high frequency of familial autoimmunity. The I F antibody was not present in gastric secretions of this group and this may account for their failure to develop PA during the period of observation. J. B.
Anaphylaxis Discrepancies between systemic anaphylaxis and the Schultz-Dale reaction.
Cirstea, M.: Int. Arch. AUerg. 38:113,1970. Guinea pigs were sensitized to rabbit y-globulin (R.GG), bovine y-globulin (EGG), human y-globulin (HGG), or ovalbumin with 10 mg. of protein intraperitoneally and 5 mg. intramuscularly in both hind legs. The injections were repeated in 48 hours. Half of the animals in each group were challenged for systemic anaphylaxis by intracardiac administration of 10 mg. of antigen 3 weeks after the first sensitizing doses. The remaining animals were used for Schultz-Dale experiments. Two ileum strips from each animal were examined. A rabbit antiovalbumin serum and anti-BGG serum were prepared without adjuvants. Equivalent doses of the two sera with regard to systemic anaphylaxis were established and used for Schultz-Dale experiments in passively sensitized guinea pigs. Schultz-Dale contractions were recorded for 10 minutes on a kymograph. Washings of the bath were rigorously standardized. The relaxation rate was calculated as the percentage of "relaxation area" from the theoretical area of "null relaxation." The "theoretical area of null relaxation" was "the area delineated at the bottom by the prolongation of the initial base line, at the top by the horizontal line passing through the peak of the contraction curve, and on the left and right by the verticals traced at the beginning of the contraction and through the final ten-minute point." The "relaxation area" was the "area delineated at the bottom of the contraction curve, at the top by the horizontal line traced from the peak of the contraction curve, and on the right by the above mentioned vertical."
24
Abstracts
The Journal of ALLERGY MARCH 1971
The mortality rates in animals sensitized to EGG and ovalbumin were equal and far exceeded those in the animals sensitized with BGG and HGO. The relaxation rate induced by BGG was significantly lower than that induced by ovalbumin. Calculations of the relaxation rates with HG
Ophthalmology and otolaryngology Immunoglobulins in nasal polyp fluid. Donovan, R., Johansson, S. G. 0., Bennich, H., and Soothill, J. F . : Int. Arch. Allerg. 37:154,1970. Nasal polypectomies were done on 29 patients, and the polyps removed were then subjected to sectioning and centrifuging to produce a yellow fluid. At the time of operation, blood was taken for examination of the serum. A single diifusion technique was used to estimate the various proteins and immunoglobulins in the fluids and serum. These were also analyzed for I g E concentration by the radioimmunoabsorbent technique. The concentration of albumin and a macroglobulin (proteins which are assumed to be inert for this system) were present in slightly lower concentrations in the fluid than in the serum, indicating that poorly selective filtration from serum into polyps had occurred. The nasal polyp concentrations of IgG, IgA, and I g E were moderately higher than the serum values, indicating that these immunoglobulins are produced locally in considerable quantity. I g M values were not very diiferent between serum and polyp fluid, probably indicating less local production of IgM. The results suggested that the production rate of IgG, IgA, and IgM may be related, but that of I g E appears to be independent. Persons with a history of positive skin tests and specific provocation tests were designated as a reaginic group, and they showed high measurable serum levels of I g E . However, local production of I g E did not appear to be related to the clinical entity of reaginicity, since the nonreaginic group had levels of I g E as high as did the reaginic group in the polyp fluid. I t was postulated that reagin was produced locally in sufficient quantity to sensitize the noses of the former group but not enough to sensitize the skin. One patient with a purulent nasal discharge and a polymorphonuclear infiltrate in the polyp had the highest concentration of IgG and IgA. Polyps with large amounts of eosinophil infiltrate had significantly higher concentrations of a macroglobulin, suggesting greater capillary leakiness than those polyps predominantly infiltrated with plasma cells and IjTuphocytes. M. C.