The Development of Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Specific IgE and the Release of Histamine in Nasopharyngeal Secretions after Infection

Abstract

We studied the development of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-specific IgE and the release of histamine in nasopharyngeal secretions from 79 infants with various forms of respiratory illness due to RSV. RSV-IgE was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; specificity was confirmed by appropriate blocking experiments. Histamine content in the secretions was determined by fluorimetric methods. RSV-IgE was detectable in only one of 19 patients with RSV infection without wheezing, but was detectable in the majority of 60 patients with wheezing (P less than 0.01). Titers of RSV-IgE were significantly higher in patients with wheezing (P less than 0.05). Histamine was detectable in secretions of some patients with all forms of illness but was detected significantly more often (P = 0.05) and in higher concentrations in patients with wheezing. Peak titers of RSV-IgE and concentrations of histamine correlated significantly with the degree of hypoxia (P less than 0.001). Formation of RSV-specific IgE and release of histamine may adversely affect the outcome of RSV infection.

Specific and Nonspecific Obstructive Lung Disease in Childhood: Causes of Changes in the Prevalence of Asthma

“…The evidence for this can be obtained from cultures, antigen detection, or serologic responses compared with random controls (11)(12)(13). Similar results have been obtained in population-based studies (14).…”

“…The relevance of the immune response to RSV has been debated for many years. Welliver and his colleagues reported the presence of nasal IgE antibodies specific for RSV (11 (5,12,13,27). By the time children have reached middle school (10-13 years of age), asthma is very strongly associated with positive skin tests to common inhalant allergens.…”

Environmental risk factors and their role in the management of atopic dermatitis

“…While herpesvirus infections early in life may help prevent AD, infections with herpes simplex and Coxsackie virus in patients with established AD can lead to eczema herpeticum and Coxsakium, respectively [136,137]. Moreover, some studies found that infections with respiratory syncytial virus may actually increase the risk of disease [73,[75][76][77][78]. Finally, it is well established that patients with AD have increased colonization of both lesional and nonlesional skin with Staphylococcal aureus and decreased microbial diversity [79][80][81][82].…”

Human and bovine respiratory syncytial virus: Immunopathologic mechanisms

“…Also, the level of HRSV-specific IgE response after primary infection is useful in predicting future episodes of wheezing (91). Recently, a defect in suppressor cell numbers and function was reported in infants with HRSV-bronchiolitis, which may explain the overproduction of IgE and exaggerated lymphocyte proliferation response (discussed later) in these patients (107). Possibly, the severe form of HRSV infection occurs only in those individuals with a hereditary tendency to overproduce IgE.…”