Immunoglobulins in Tears and Sera in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the role of circulating (i.e., present in the serum) and locally produced (i.e., in the lamina propria of mucous membranes) immunoglobulins including IgE. The IgG, IgA, IgM immunoglobulins, and IgE (total and specific) were measured in patients' sera with atopic dermatitis (AD) (n = 93). As control subjects 83 healthy volunteers, matched for sex and age, were included. The IgG and IgM levels were within the normal range. Mean value of the total IgA (2.55 +/- 0.26 g/L, in controls 1.49 +/- 0.32 g/L) and IgE (609 IU/mL, in controls below 40 IU/mL) levels were significantly elevated (p < 0.05) in sera of AD patients. Based on the serum total IgE levels (above or below 40 IU/mL) the patients were divided into RAST-positive and RAST-negative types of allergy, respectively. RAST-positive AD (n = 79) showed hypersensitivity to inhalant and food allergens determined by the specific IgE test. The majority of RAST-positive AD cases (n = 68) presented only skin manifestations, while the rest of the patients (n = 11) had rhinoconjunctivitis as well. RAST-positive AD patients with rhinoconjunctivitis showed an increased IgE level in tears (above 10 IU/mL). The specific IgE test positivity in tears correlated with elevated serum total IgE levels and specific IgE positivity (r = 0.925). Total and allergen-specific IgE in the tears can be used to diagnose allergy in vitro. It is believed that the mucosal permeability is enhanced in the atopic inflammatory process, and this may facilitate the transmission of environmental allergens.

Serum immunoglobulins in psoriatic erythroderma

“…reported the normal level of other Igs in HIS. It has been found that the IgG and IgM levels were within the normal range but the total IgA and IgE levels were significantly elevated in sera of AD patients 21 . In AIDS patients the levels of all classes of immunoglobulin were elevated 22 .…”

“…It has been found that the IgG and IgM levels were within the normal range but the total IgA and IgE levels were significantly elevated in sera of AD patients. 21 In AIDS patients the levels of all classes of immunoglobulin were elevated. 22 The exact mechanism in the regulation of other immunoglobulins by Th1 and Th2 was largely unknown.…”

Unique Epitopes on CεmX in IgE–B Cell Receptors Are Potentially Applicable for Targeting IgE-Committed B Cells

“…CD20 is a B cell-specific marker whose expression is initiated during late pre-B cell development and lost during plasma cell differentiation (35,36). The levels of IgA and IgE in blood were generally elevated in patients with atopic dermatitis (37). Studies have shown that high proportions (ranging 60-92%) of human blood plasma cells express IgA (38,39).…”

Relationship between Total Tear and Serum IgE in Allergic Conjunctivitis

“…The measurement of total tear IgE is useful for the diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis [1,2,3]. Several research groups have reported a new method of measuring total tear IgE by immunochromatography [4,5,6,7]. Recently, a new commercial kit was released (Allerwatch®, Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, and Wakamoto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan), which is a rapid immunoassay for measuring the total tear IgE level.…”