Protective activity of the antilipopolysaccharide antibodies from human cord serum.

We evaluated the ability of human maternal and cord serum antibodies to protect mice challenged with live Escherichia coli serotype O6:K2ac (E. coli O6). Mice received paired maternal or cord serum pools before a challenge with E. coli O6 to evaluate the mortality rate. All the pools were able to protect the animals challenged with bacteria except the test group from paired maternal and cord sera from preterm neonates containing less than 1.0 mg L(-1) immunoglobulin G antibody levels. In liver, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes from the control group (phosphate-buffered saline), more than 10(2) CFU mL(-1) bacteria were found at 30 min and more than 10(5) CFU mL(-1) after 120 min. The test group showed lower bacterial counts in the organs, and no bacteria in the mesenteric lymph nodes during the evaluated period. Tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6 were undetectable in serum from animals pretreated with paired maternal and cord serum pools from full-term neonates and pools from preterm neonates containing high antibody and avidity levels. Our findings suggest that placental transfer of antilipopolysaccharide O6 immunoglobulin G antibodies to neonates has a high capacity to prevent lethal infection with E. coli O6 in a mouse protection model and that the degree of protection is determined by the concentration and avidity of these IgG antibodies.

Immunological evaluation of allergic respiratory children with recurrent sinusitis.

The objective of this study was to evaluate humoral immunity of allergic respiratory children with chronic/recurrent sinusitis. Twenty-seven allergic respiratory (persistent mild/moderate asthma and persistent allergic rhinitis) children (7-15-year old) with chronic or recurrent sinusitis were evaluated. Patients had symptoms and abnormal computer tomography scan even after two adequate treatments (long-lasting antibiotics, decongestants, and short-term oral corticosteroids). clinical examination, sweat test, total blood cell count, measurement of serum levels of: total and specific IgE, immunoglobulins (G, M, A), IgG subclasses, antibodies to Haemophilus influenza type b (IgG anti-Ps Hib) and pneumococcal serotypes (IgG anti-Ps 1, 3, 5, 6B, 9V, and 14) before and after active immunization (Act-Hib and Pneumo23, Aventis Pasteur SA, Lyon, France), Rubella neutralizing antibody titers and human immunodeficiency virus antibodies. Specific IgE to inhalant allergens higher than class III were observed in 24/27 patients. One patient had IgA plus IgG2 deficiency and other an IgG3 deficiency. Eight and 12 of 27 patients had IgG2 and IgG3 serum levels below 2.5th percentile, respectively. Immunological responses to protein and polysaccharide antigens were normal in all patients. Although our patients have been appropriately treated of their allergic diseases, they persisted with chronic/recurrent sinusitis and 60% of them had a documented osteomeatal complex blockade. In spite of the diagnosis of IgA plus IgG2 deficiency and an isolated IgG3 deficiency, in all patients an adequate response to Ps antigens was observed. Primary and/or secondary humoral immunodeficiency seems not to be the main cause of chronic/recurrent sinusitis in patients with respiratory allergic disease.

[Influence of type of delivery on A, G and M immunoglobulin concentration in maternal colostrum]. / Influência do tipo de parto sobre a concentração de imunoglobulinas A, G e M no colostro materno.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between type of delivery and immunoglobulin concentration in maternal colostrum. METHODS: We studied 82 women who were giving birth. Age was between 21 and 41 years, gestational age was 37 or more weeks and parity up to IV pregnancies. The women were in good nutritional condition and did not have any pregnancy or puerperium- associated diseases. The following aspects were also considered as inclusion criteria for the newborn: weight > or = 2,500 g, Apgar score > 7 in the first minute and exclusive breastfeeding until discharge from the nursery. The women were divided into three groups: A - vaginal delivery, B - caesarean section with labor and C - elective caesarean section. Colostrum was collected manually between 48 and 72 h after delivery. Immunoglobulins were dosed using the ELISA technique. RESULTS: There were no differences between the three groups in terms of time of colostrum collection. The shorter the time of colostrum collection, the greater the concentration of immunoglobulin A. Primiparous women had higher concentrations of IgA and IgM in maternal colostrum than did multiparous women. The group submitted to caesarean section with labor had higher concentrations of IgA in maternal colostrum than did the normal delivery group. IgM and IgG concentrations in colostrum were not influenced by type of delivery. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of labor together with surgical stress induce higher IgA concentrations in the colostrum of women submitted to caesarean section with labor.

Influência do tipo de parto sobre a concentração de imunoglobulinas A, G e M no colostro materno / Influence of type of delivery on A, G and M immunoglobulin concentration in maternal colostrum

OBJETIVO: Verificar a influência do tipo de parto sobre a concentração das imunoglobulinas (Ig) A, G e M no colostro materno. MÉTODOS: Foram selecionadas 82 puérperas com idade cronológica entre 21 e 41 anos, idade gestacional de 37 ou mais semanas, paridade até IV gesta, bom estado nutricional e sem patologias associadas durante a gestação e o puerpério. Foram também critérios de inclusão para os recém-nascidos: peso > 2.500 g, escore de Apgar > 7 no primeiro minuto e aleitamento materno exclusivo durante o período da internação. As puérperas foram divididas em três grupos: A - parto vaginal; B - cesárea precedida de trabalho de parto; e C - cesárea eletiva. O colostro foi colhido manualmente entre 48 e 72 horas pós-parto. IgA, IgG e IgM foram dosadas pela técnica de ELISA RESULTADOS: Não se observou diferença significativa entre os tempos de coleta do colostro nos três grupos maternos estudados. Quanto menor o tempo de coleta, maior foi a concentração de IgA no colostro materno; quanto menor a paridade, maior foi a concentração de IgA e IgM no colostro materno. O grupo de puérperas submetidas a cesárea precedida de trabalho de parto apresentou concentração mais elevada de IgA no colostro do que o grupo de puérperas que havia dado à luz por parto normal. A concentração de IgM e IgG no colostro materno não foi influenciada pelo tipo de parto. CONCLUSAO: A ocorrência do trabalho de parto, somada ao estresse cirúrgico, induz a uma concentração mais elevada de IgA no colostro materno na puérpera submetida a cesárea precedida de trabalho de parto.

Síndrome de deficiencia de anticuerpos antipolisacáridos con niveles séricos normales de inmunoglobulinas / Syndrome of anti-polysaccharide antibodies deficiency with normal levels of immunoglobulins

El desarrollo de la inmunidad humoral y celular tiene lugar durante los primeros años de la vida. Este proceso depende del tiempo, según los distintos mecanismos de defensa. Los antígenos polisacáridos son los que requieren más tiempo para inducir una respuesta inmune adecuada. Desde 1980, se han descripto pacientes con niveles normales de inmunoglobulinas que pueden presentar una deficiencia en la síntesis de anticuerpos para antígenos polisacáridos. La vacunación de los pacientes con productos capsulares del neumococo para estudiar la capacidad de síntesis de anticuerpos antipolisacáridos incrementó el diagnóstico del síndrome de deficiencia de anticuerpos antipolisacáridos con niveles séricos normales de inmunoglobulinas. Los factores etiopatogénicos de éste síndrome no han sido dilucidados. Los antígenos polisacáridos son del tipo 2 timo-independiente. Están compuestos por epítetos de oligosacáridos que inducen una activación y proliferación de linfocitos B por mecanismos de cross-linking con las inmunoglobulinas de superficie. Generalmente, los linfocitos B responden a testos antígenos multivalentes en ausencia de linfocitos T helper restringidos al CMH II. La densidad de inmunoglobulinas de superficie expresadas es el factor limitante en la activación de los linfocitos B. Se ha propuesto que se necesita una segunda señal coestimulatoria. El sistema complemento podría constituir la unión entre la respuesta inmune específica e inespecífica. Se ha sugerido que los polisacáridos se unen con fragmentos C3d y que éste complejo es reconocido por CD21 o el receptor de complemento de las células B CR2. Otras moléculas como CD1a-d (moléculas HLA-like) pueden presentar antígenos polisacáridos a las células T CD4-CD8-Óß+ e inducir proliferación de las células B

Síndrome de deficiencia de anticuerpos antipolisacáridos con niveles séricos normales de inmunoglobulinas / Syndrome of anti-polysaccharide antibodies deficiency with normal levels of immunoglobulins

El desarrollo de la inmunidad humoral y celular tiene lugar durante los primeros años de la vida. Este proceso depende del tiempo, según los distintos mecanismos de defensa. Los antígenos polisacáridos son los que requieren más tiempo para inducir una respuesta inmune adecuada. Desde 1980, se han descripto pacientes con niveles normales de inmunoglobulinas que pueden presentar una deficiencia en la síntesis de anticuerpos para antígenos polisacáridos. La vacunación de los pacientes con productos capsulares del neumococo para estudiar la capacidad de síntesis de anticuerpos antipolisacáridos incrementó el diagnóstico del síndrome de deficiencia de anticuerpos antipolisacáridos con niveles séricos normales de inmunoglobulinas. Los factores etiopatogénicos de éste síndrome no han sido dilucidados. Los antígenos polisacáridos son del tipo 2 timo-independiente. Están compuestos por epítetos de oligosacáridos que inducen una activación y proliferación de linfocitos B por mecanismos de cross-linking con las inmunoglobulinas de superficie. Generalmente, los linfocitos B responden a testos antígenos multivalentes en ausencia de linfocitos T helper restringidos al CMH II. La densidad de inmunoglobulinas de superficie expresadas es el factor limitante en la activación de los linfocitos B. Se ha propuesto que se necesita una segunda señal coestimulatoria. El sistema complemento podría constituir la unión entre la respuesta inmune específica e inespecífica. Se ha sugerido que los polisacáridos se unen con fragmentos C3d y que éste complejo es reconocido por CD21 o el receptor de complemento de las células B CR2. Otras moléculas como CD1a-d (moléculas HLA-like) pueden presentar antígenos polisacáridos a las células T CD4-CD8-Oß+ e inducir proliferación de las células B (AU)