Control of Allergen-Induced Histamine Secretion by Human Basophils with F(ab) of Anti-IgE Antibodies.

A strategy was developed to obtain univalent F(ab) fragments against IgE, which would interfere with IgE-mediated activation of target cells, but lacked their activity due to cross-linking of IgE bound to Fc(epsilon)-receptors. Two kinds of mouse anti-human IgE monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against CH(2) or CH(3) domains induced histamine release from basophils of allergic patients and healthy donors. F(ab')(2) fragments of the mAb (0.01 - 10.0 &mgr;g/ml) possessed the same activity. On the contrary, F(ab) fragments of the mAb did not activate basophils, but in concentrations up to 10.0 &mgr;g/ml they inhibited, both in direct and cross reaction, histamine secretion induced by anti-IgE mAb and their F(ab')(2) fragments. Allergen-induced histamine release from basophils of pollen-sensitive patients was also inhibited by F(ab) fragments of anti-IgE mAb. It was suggested that univalent F(ab) fragments of anti-IgE mAb binding to cell-fixed IgE molecules modified their allergen-induced conformation and, as a result of that, inhibited mediator release from the cells.

[A shock reaction from insect bites in patients with urticaria pigmentosa]. / Shokovaia reaktsiia pri uzhalenii nasekomym u bol'nykh pigmentnoi krapivnitsei.

The examination of 11 urticaria pigmentosa (UP) patients included allergological history, skin prick, scarification tests and intracutaneous tests with noninfectious and bee poison allergens, total and specific serum IgE measurements, in vitro reaction of histamine release from peripheral blood basophils induced by bee poison. The response of mastocytosis patients to insect sting was characterized by a rapid (within 5 min) development of severe systemic reactions or shock. The skin reactions and serum antibodies to bee poison were not registered in 9 of 11 patients. They also had a negative reaction of allergen-specific histamine release from basophils. This gives evidence for nonimmunological, pseudoallergic mechanism of the shock reaction. The latter can be prevented by bee poison immunotherapy. IgE-antibody-mediated allergic reaction to bee sting could not be excluded in 2 patients. For them specific immunotherapy with bee poison, possibly with purified poison preparations containing the allergens alone, are indicated.

Histamine releasing activity of blood mononuclear cells is acquired by means of activation of mast cells.

It has been shown that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from atopic patients with acute clinical manifestations of pollinosis, atopic dermatitis or bronchial asthma, and preincubated in vitro for 18 hours, acquired the ability to induce histamine release from auto-basophils and basophils of healthy donors. Both PBMC and their supernatants possessed this histamine releasing activity (HRA). During remission, HRA could be reproduced in sensitive patients after positive cutaneous tests with a specific allergen. Skin tests with non-specific allergen or histamine-induced provocations were ineffective. HRA of PBMC was also reproduced in healthy individuals after pronounced Prausnitz-Küstner reactions or compound 48/80-induced inflammatory responses. It is concluded that the in vivo activation of mast cells (MC) might be responsible for the acquirement by PBMC of the potential ability to induce histamine release and that this ability was realized after in vitro incubation of such prepared PBMC.

[A comparative study of the efficacy of Tilade and intal in atopic bronchial asthma]. / Sravnitel'noe izuchenie éffektivnosti taileda i intala pri atopicheskoi bronkhial'noi astme.

The authors compared the responses of patients with atopic asthma to two cromolyn drugs of different generations, tilade and intal. As shown by clinical, allergological and immunological findings, tilade (sodium nedocromil) compared to intal is more active against atopic bronchial asthma complicated by obstructive bronchitis. It can more efficiently reduce specific and nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity, is more potent against inflammation. Due to tilade, the need in glucocorticoid inhalation lowered, it became possible to induce a prolonged remission.

[A new Soviet allergen made from bee venom for the specific diagnosis of allergic reactions to bee stings]. / Novyi otechestvennyi allergen iz iada pchel dlia spetsificheskoi diagnostiki allergicheskikh reaktsii na uzhaleniia pchelami.

Overall 46 patients with allergic reactions to bee stings were examined. As a result of making skin prick, scarification and intracutaneous tests with an allergen from bee venom, allergy to bee stings was revealed in all the 46 patients, whereas only 37 patients responded to an allergen from the bee body. Specific IgE-antibodies using RAST were detected in 29 out of 31 patients. All the 29 patients had positive skin tests with an allergen from bee venom and only 22 with an allergen from the bee body. Specific histamine release was detected in all 13 patients examined by means of the indicated test. 100% coincidence was recorded with the results of intracutaneous tests with an allergen from bee venom. Only 11 out of the 13 patients had positive intracutaneous tests with an allergen from the bee body. Thus, the new Soviet allergen obtained from bee venom is effective in the diagnosis of allergy in response to bee stings.

[Correlation between the T, K and NK cell count and the IgE level in patients with atopy (pollinosis)]. / Suotnoshenie mezhdu broia na T-, K-, NK-kletkite i nivoto na IgE u bolni s atopiia (polinoza).

In a homogenous group of patients with polyposis, IgE level was juxtaposed to the number of E-rosette-forming cells (E-RFC), K- and NK-cells. The effect of a parenterally introduced allergen (via an accelerated course hyposensibilization) was also determined upon those indices. The number of E-RFC was diminished in the patient group (53,1 +/- 3,3%) as compared with the results (67,2 +/- 2,1%) obtained from the control subjects, selected by the control method of couples. A dependence of a direct ratio was found between the number of E-RFC and IgE level in the patients. The number of K- and NK-cells in the patients did not significantly differ from their number in the control subjects; no relationship was found between the number of K-cells and the number of NK-cells, between those cells and IgE level or the number of E-RFC. Allergen-specific cells - kilers were present in the peripheral blood of the patients with polyposis. The course of specific hyposensibilization carried out was accompanied, in all patients by increased number of E-RFC (to 122 +/- 7% as compared with the initial level) and a reduction of the number of K-cells (to 36 +/- 5.4% as compared with the initial level). Both the changes in IgE level and the number of NK-cells were not of one type in all patients.

[Cross microbial antigens of the human bronchopulmonary apparatus]. / O perekrestnykh antigenakh mikrobov bronkholegochnogo apparata cheloveka.

The work was undertaken to assess the antigenic affinity of some Neisseria perflava, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus strains serving as active sensitinogen of the human broncho-pulmonary apparatus. With the aid of the complement fixation test, precipitation after Ouchterolony, and immunoelectrophoresis there was established the presence of a series of similar antigenic determinants common for all the three microbes and for determinant responsible for the cross reactions of two microbes only.

[Experimental sensitizing activity of Neisseria perflava]. / Sensibiliziruiushchaia aktivnost' Neisseria perflava v éksperimente.

In experiments conducted on guinea pigs the sensitizing activity of Neisseria perflava isolated from the mucous membranes of the bronchi of patients with infectious asthma was studied. A possibility of reproducing active skin anaphylaxis after Ovary and of the contraction-test of the tracheal-chain by the neisseria antigens was shown. Neisseria perflava was found to possess a greater sensitizing activity than Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae inhabiting the bronchi of patients with infectious asthma.

[Isolation and identification of Neisseria in bronchial asthma]. / Vydelenie i identifikatsiia neisserii pri bronkhial'noi astme

A study was made of 29 strains of neisseria isolated from the mucosa of the pharynx and the bronchi of patients suffering from infectious-allergic bronchial asthma of different severity. Comparison of the strains by 22 tests (including the assessment of the morphological, biochemical and other signs) permitted to establish the species of neisseria with some probability. The species reference was determined in 23 cultures. N. perflava was isolated in 10 cases, N. subflava--in 6, N. flava--in 3 cases and N. sicca--in 4 cases, 2 strains corresponded to apigmentary N. cinerea. The species was not established in 4 cultures. There was found no connection between a definite microbial association and the species of neisseria and the severity of the disease. Pigment species of neisseria should be tested as diagnostic allergens.