Skip to main content
PMC home page
Thorax logoLink to Thorax
. 1976 Dec;31(6):702–707. doi: 10.1136/thx.31.6.702

Aspects of serum and sputum antibody in chronic airways obstruction.

C W Clarke
PMCID: PMC470498  PMID: 1013941

Abstract

Immunoglobulin levels and precipitating antibody against a range of microbial antigens were measured in simultaneously collected serum and sputum samples from patients with chronic bronchitis (11), cystic fibrosis (9), bronchiectasis (9), and asthma (4). Sputum was prepared by dialysis and high-speed centrifugation methods. Results showed that it was possible to detect precipitating antibody in the sputum, and the rate was increased when both methods were used. A discrepancy was noted between the detection rate in the sputum and serum. This, combined with the lack of correlation between sputum and serum immunoglobulins, lack of relationship between bronchial inflammation and sputum immunoglobulins, and the lack of IgM in the sputum suggested that the antibody and immunoglobulin were locally produced. Sputum IgA (7S) in patients with chronic bronchitis was significantly lower (P less than 0-05) than that found in patients with cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis. Significant differences (P less than 0-05) were also noted in serum IgG levels between patients with chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, and cystic fibrosis while serum IgM levels in patients with chronic bronchitis were significantly lower (P less than 0-05) when compared to serum levels in patients with cystic fibrosis. The presence of precipitating antibody in the sputum raises the possibility that type III reactions may be important in the pathogenesis of these conditions.

Full text

PDF
702

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Asmal A. C., Leary W. P. A study of the effects of 780SE on carbohydrate tolerance and plasma hormone and lipid profile in maturity-onset diabetes. Postgrad Med J. 1975;51 (Suppl 1):144–148. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Austrian R. The bacterial flora of the respiratory tract. Some knowns and unknowns. Yale J Biol Med. 1968 Apr-Jun;40(5-6):400–413. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. BRUMFITT W., WILLOUGHBY M. L., BROMLEY L. L. An evaluation of sputum examination in chronic bronchitis. Lancet. 1957 Dec 28;273(7009):1306–1309. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(57)91637-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Biberfeld G., Sterner G. Antibodies in bronchial secretions following natural infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand B Microbiol Immunol. 1971;79(4):599–605. doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1971.tb03818.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Branefors-Helander P. Serological studies of Haemophilus influenzae. 3. The endotoxic effect of various antigen preparations and the relation between this effect and demonstrable precipitinogens. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol. 1973;44(5):585–600. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Brogan T. D., Ryley H. C., Neale L., Yassa J. Soluble proteins of bronchopulmonary secretions from patients with cystic fibrosis, asthma, and bronchitis. Thorax. 1975 Feb;30(1):72–79. doi: 10.1136/thx.30.1.72. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Deuschl H., Johansson S. G. Immunoglobulins in tracheo-bronchial secretion with special reference to IgE. Clin Exp Immunol. 1974 Mar;16(3):401–412. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Falk G. A., Okinaka A. J., Siskind G. W. Immunoglobulins in the bronchial washings of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1972 Jan;105(1):14–21. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1972.105.1.14. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Gump D. W., Christmas W. A., Forsyth B. R., Phillips C. A., Stouch W. H. Serum and secretory antibodies in patients with chronic bronchitis. Arch Intern Med. 1973 Dec;132(6):847–851. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Katz R. M., Kniker W. T. Infantile hypersensitivity pneumonitis as a reaction to organic antigens. N Engl J Med. 1973 Feb 1;288(5):233–237. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197302012880504. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. LEES A. W., MCNAUGHT W. Bacteriology of lower-respiratory-tract secretions, sputum, and upper-respiratory-tract secretions in "normals" and chronic bronchitics. Lancet. 1959 Dec 19;2(7112):1112–1115. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(59)90099-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Martinez-Tello F. J., Braun D. G., Blanc W. A. Immunoglobulin production in bronchial mucosa and bronchial lymph nodes, particularly in cystic fibrosis of the pancreas. J Immunol. 1968 Nov;101(5):989–1003. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. McFarlane H., Holzel A., Brenchley P., Allan J. D., Wallwork J. C., Singer B. E., Worsley B. Immune complexes in cystic fibrosis. Br Med J. 1975 Feb 22;1(5955):423–428. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5955.423. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Medici T. C., Buergi H. The role of immunoglobulin A in endogenous bronchial defense mechanisms in chronic bronchitis. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1971 Jun;103(6):784–791. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1971.103.6.784. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Reed C. E. Pertussis sensitization as an animal model for the abnormal bronchial sensitivity of asthma. Yale J Biol Med. 1968 Apr-Jun;40(5-6):507–521. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Ryley H. C., Brogan T. D. Quantitative immunoelectrophoretic analysis of the plasma proteins in the sol phase of sputum from patients with chronic bronchitis. J Clin Pathol. 1973 Nov;26(11):852–856. doi: 10.1136/jcp.26.11.852. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Ryley H. C., Brogan T. D. Variation in the composition of sputum in chronic chest diseases. Br J Exp Pathol. 1968 Dec;49(6):625–633. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Shore S. L., Potter C. W., Stuart-Harris C. H. Antibody response to inactivated influenza vaccine given by different routes in patients with chronic bronchopulmonary disease. Thorax. 1973 Nov;28(6):721–728. doi: 10.1136/thx.28.6.721. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Tager I., Speizer F. E. Role of infection in chronic bronchitis. N Engl J Med. 1975 Mar 13;292(11):563–571. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197503132921105. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Wallwork J. C., Brenchley P., McCarthy J., Allan J. D., Moss D., Ward A. M., Holzel A., Williams R. F., McFarlane H. Some aspects of immunity in patients with cystic fibrosis. Clin Exp Immunol. 1974 Nov;18(3):303–320. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Warren C. P., Tse K. S. Extrinsic allergic alveolitis owing to hypersensitivity to chickens-significance of sputum precipitins. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1974 Jun;109(6):672–677. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1974.109.6.672. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Wittels E. H., Coalson J. J., Welch M. H., Guenter C. A. Pulmonary intravascular leukocyte sequestration. A potential mechanism of lung injury. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1974 May;109(5):502–509. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1974.109.5.502. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. van der Zwan J. C., Orie N. G., de Vries K. Biphasic reaction after inhalation of Haemophilus influenzae in patients with chronic nonspecific lung disease. Clin Allergy. 1975 Jun;5(2):225–232. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.1975.tb01856.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Thorax are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES