Development and isotype diversity of antibodies to inhalant and dietary antigens in childhood atopic eczema

Abstract

This study demonstrated that a major feature of childhood atopic eczema (AE) is the presence of serum IgG and IgE anti-house dust mite (anti-HDM) antibodies in almost all AE individuals. IgG anti-HDM antibodies, usually of the IgG1 isotype, became prevalent in AE children over the age of 4 years with the highest antibody levels in children in their early teens. In contrast, immunological sensitization to dietary antigens, notably milk and eggs, occurred in both AE children and age-matched non-atopic control children, and was often associated with IgG4 antibodies during early childhood. These became less prevalent with increasing age in control children but persisted in AE children, sometimes together with IgE antibodies. The later occurrence of anti-HDM antibodies in AE children could reflect immunological sensitization following inhalation of antigen, whereas sensitization to dietary antigens appears to be a natural event in early childhood.

Food hypersensitivity and irritable bowel syndrome

“…In contrast, atopic children continue to produce IgG (and IgE) antibodies, suggesting an underlying disturbance of immune regulation 80 , . 81 Raised titres of IgG4 antibodies have been reported in patients with eczema and/or asthma caused by milk intolerance 82 . Increased levels of food‐specific IgG4 antibodies have also been demonstrated in patients with atopic eczema and respiratory allergy 83…”

IgG and IgA antibodies to dietary antigens in food allergy and intolerance

“…Furthermore, studies in healthy children have demonstrated high levels of IgG antibody to milk and egg in the early years of hfe which gradually diminish with increasing age; interestingly, the reverse appears to be the case for antibodies to inhalant antigens, e.g. house dust mite [8,9]. It is clear, therefore, that the inclusion (or otherwise) of appropriate control subjects, particularly age-matched healthy children, is crucial to the interpretation of much published data.…”

“…These IgG antibodies have been detected in some, but not all, studies of adult AE patients and, when present, these antibodies are distributed between the IgGI and IgG4 subclasses [7,[10][11][12][13][14]. Recent studies in AE children and healthy age-matched controls have demonstrated that IgG antibodies to egg and milk antigens are common in both groups between the ages of 1 -5 years, with a similar IgG subclass profile [8,9]. These IgG (and IgE) antibodies appeared to persist only in AE children, however, which may be related to the defect in immunoregulation underlying AE which modulates the synthesis of IgE but also of IgG4 [15][16][17].…”

Maternal Influence on IgG Subclass Antibodies to Bet v 1 during the First 18 Months of Life as Detected with a Sensitive ELISA

“…The levels arc higher in atopic than in nonatopic children [16][17][18]. Little is known of the development of IgG subclass re sponses to other inhalant allergens, e.g.…”

“…Prospective studies [15,16] show that IgG responses to house dust mite in infancy are almost exclusively of the IgG I subclass, and, as seen in cross-sectional studies [17,18], they are later accompanied by an IgG4 response. The levels arc higher in atopic than in nonatopic children [16][17][18].…”