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Biomedical subjects

G J Gleich

Publications and source records attributed to G J Gleich.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

The mini-RAST: Comparison with other varieties of the radioallergosorbent test for the measurement of immunoglobulin E antibodies.

In the performance of the RAST a variety of different solid-phase supports for allergens are utilized. In this study we coupled allergens to microcrystalline cellulose and reduced the quantities of solid-phase allergen tenfold and of anti-IgE fourfold. These reductions actually increased the sensitivity of the RAST for IgE antibodies to several allergens, including those derived from Alternaria tenuis and rye grass pollen. We have termed this procedure the mini-RAST to distinguish it from the procedure employing larger quantities of solid-phase allergen and anti-IgE, the maxi-RAST. We then compared three RAST procedures for the detection of IgE antibodies to ragweed allergens: the maxi-RAST, the mini-RAST, and the paper disk RAST, using both commercial paper disks and disks prepared in our laboratory. The maxi-RAST and the mini-RAST yielded similar results and both appeared more sensitive than the paper disk RAST for the detection of IgE antibodies to ragweed. The results indicate that the microcrystalline cellulose RAST can be significantly scaled down without a loss of its ability to detect IgE antibodies and with a considerable saving of valuable solid-phase allergens and anti-IgE.

Allergens↗
PubMed1979

Interactions between human eosinophils and schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni. II. The mechanism of irreversible eosinophil adherence.

Previous work (1)(1) has shown that normal human eosinophils show a preferential capacity, in comparison with neutrophils, to bind to antibody- coated schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni. This effect is attributable to a temperature-dependent function of the eosinophil which renders its binding stable and irreversible by aggregated gamma globulin or Staphylococcus aureus protein A. In contrast, the binding of neutrophils is readily reversible by these agents. It has now been shown that the differences observed between eosinophils and neutrophils is a property of their interaction with living schistosomula. When dead or artificially damaged schistosomula were tested, neutrophils showed a markedly enhanced capacity to adhere, in both the presence and absence of anti-chistosomular serum. Subsequent experiments were designed to test the hypothesis that the strong, stable binding of eosinophils was attributable to degranulation, with release of granule contents which would then serve as ligands to bind the cell to the organism. First, an enhanced adherence both of eosinophils and of neutrophils could be demonstrated in the presence of eosinophil major basic protein (MBP) or of protamine, a high molecular weight cation. Second, the binding of eosinophils induced by concanavalin A (Con A) was found to differ markedly from that induced by antischistosomular serum. Con A-mediated binding of eosinophils was fully reversible by alpha-methyl-mannoside, was not associated with damage to the organism, and did not lead to degranulation of the cell, as estimated by measuring the release of MBP into the culture supernate. However, induction of degranulation of concanavalin A-bound eosinophils, but not of neutrophils, with the calcium ionophore A23187 converted the reaction into one which was no longer reversible by alpha- methylmannoside and in which damage to the organism now did occur. These findings support the hypothesis that the stable binding of eosinophils is associated with degranulation, a process which may contribute to the preferential capacity of this cell to mediate antibody-dependent damage to schistosomula.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1979

Structure and activity of ragweed antigen E. II. Allergenic crossreactivity of the subunits.

Recently we have reported the isolation of the two subunits (alpha and beta) of ragweed antigen E (AgE) in their active form. In the present work we have compared the allergenic activity of the two subunits with native AgE by the radioallergosorbent test (RAST) and by inhibition of the RAST. Also, the amounts of IgE antibodies in 30 ragweed-sensitive sera bound to alpha and beta subunits as well as native AgE were measured by RAST. In all individuals the percentage of RAST binding was greatest to native AgE; however, varying patterns of reactivity to alpha and beta subunits were noted. In RAST inhibition experiments, free beta subunit was equally effective in inhibiting the binding of IgE antibody (from a pooled ragweed-sensitive sera) to immoblized alpha or beta subunit. Similarly, fluid-phase alpha subunit inhibited in a comparable manner the binding of IgE antibody to solid-phase alpha or beta subunits. In further RAST inhibition experiments 7 x 10(-13) moles of fluid-phase native AgE was required for 50% inhibition of the binding of IgE antibody to solid-phase native AgE. Larger molar amounts of fluid phase beta (3.5 x 10(-11) and alpha (3 x 10(-10) were needed for 50% inhibition of the binding of IgE antibody to solid-phase native AgE. AgE allergenicity as measured by RAST could not be totally reconstituted by recombination of equimolar quantities of alpha and beta subunits. Less than 1 x 10(-12) moles of fluid-phase native AgE inhibited the binding of IgE antibody to solid-phase alpha or beta, greater than 50%. Finally, the isolated chains are bioligcally active as demonstrated by their ability to provoke wheal-and-flare skin reactions in subjects allergic to ragweed pollen, and the activities of the chains were approximately equivalent on a weight basis to native AgE.

Allergens↗
PubMed1979

Measurement of the potency of pollen extract by radioimmunoprecipitation.

We describe a novel procedure for standardization of allergen extracts using radioiodinated crude extracts. Radiolabeled extracts were reacted with immunoglogulin E (IgE) antibody, and the resulting complexes precipitated by anti-IgE. Experiments with ragweed pollen, grass pollen, honeybee venom, and Alternaria extracts revealed that 1% to 14% of the radioactivity was precipitated, these percentages ranged from 2 to 20 times blank values. Binding of labeled ragweed extracts to IgE antibody could be inhibited by unlabeled extracts and linear inhibition responses could be derived. The potencies of 11 short ragweed extracts were ranked by their inhibitory capacities in such an IgE radioimmunoprecipitation (RIP) test and compared to potencies determined by radioallergosorbent test (RAST) inhibition; these were related, rs = +0.97 (p less than 0.001). Labeled extracts were also reacted with IgG antibodies, and the resulting complexes were precipitated by anti-IgG. From 1% to 34% of the radioactivity associated with the various extracts was precipitated by anti-IgG, and these percentages were from 2 to 20 times blank values. The reaction of IgG antibody with radiolabeled pollen extracts could be inhibited by unlabeled extract, and in the case of short ragweed the measurements of potencies using IgG and IgE antibodies were correlated, rs = +0.96 (p less than 0.001), suggesting that similar determinants were recognized by both IgG and IgE classes. The RIP procedure provides an alternative to the RAST for the standardization of allergy extracts and eliminates the need for affinity chromatography-purified antibody to IgE.

Allergens↗
PubMed1979

Quantification of serum IgE in patients with burns.

IgE levels in the serum of individuals with burns were sequentially measured and compared to IgE levels in normal control blood donors. Following a burn, the levels of IgE protein showed a significant, although modest, increase, usually evident of IgE protein showed a significant, although modest, increase, usually evident between days 14 and 22. In an occasional patient, the IgE levels rose by as much as five times in value during this period. Because of the complexity of the clinical situation associated with the burn patients, we cannot ascribe these elevations of IgE to the burn per se, but must consider the possibility of other factors, especially those involved in the treatment of the burn as well as the infection. The magnitude of the elevation of IgE in the burn patients (geometric mean=272 ng/ml) was considerably lower than the magnitude of the elevations seen in atopic dermatitis and generalized neurodermatitis (geometric means=2265 and 2071 ng/ml, respectively). Thus simple trauma to the skin is not a sufficient explanation for the elevated serum IgE levels in atopic dermatitis and generalized neurodermatitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Immunoglobulin concentrations in serum and nasal secretions in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A matched-pair study.

Immunoglobulin concentrations were determined in the sera and nasal washes of 111 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who were 45 to 60 years of age and in 111 control subjects matched with the patients for age, sex, occupation, and smoking history who demonstrated normal 1-sec forced expiratory volume. Serum IgA, IgM, IgG, nad IgE were not significantly different in the 2 groups. Serum IgD was significantly higher in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Nasal wash IgD and IgM, expressed as percentages of total protein, were higher in index cases, but nasal wash IgA and IgG were comparable in both groups. The finding of relatively high concentrations of IgA, expressed as fractions of total protein, in respiratory secretions compared to serum is consistent with earlier findings that IgA is actively secreted from the respiratory epithelium and is not deficient locally in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In contrast, IgM and IgG expressed as proportions of total protein were consistently higher in sera than secretions. The IgE in nasal secretions was detected so seldom in this study that too few matched pairs were available for statistical analysis. The higher concentration of IgD in the serum and nasal secretions of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease compared with their matched pairs and the associated higher frequency of low IgD in control subjects suggests that low IgD may be protective against the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Further studies on the biologic role of IgD may provide better understanding of these findings.

Humans↗
PubMed1979

Damage to Trichinella spiralis newborn larvae by eosinophil major basic protein.

Purified eosinophil major basic protein damaged newborn larvae of Trichinella siralis when added to in vitro cultures. Damaged larvae were stiffened, immobile, and showed a granular appearance by light microscopy. Larvae in control cultures and in cultures containing equimolar concentrations of other basic proteins failed to exhibit such damage.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

The effect of antiserum to eosinophils and susceptibility and acquired immunity of the guinea-pig to trichostronglyus colubriformis.

There is much experimental evidence to suggest that eosinophils are important in resistance to parasitic infection. We tested this hypothesis by treating guinea-pigs with rabbit anti-eosinophil serum (AES) and determining the effect of treatment on susceptibility and acquired immunity to Trichostrongylus colubriformis. The treatment markedly reduced the number of eosinophils in peripheral blood and in the small intestine. The number of T. colubriformis present after initial infection and after a second infection was determined in animals treated with AES and in control animals. Administration of AES to guinea-pigs significantly increased the susceptibility of the animals to initial infection with T. colubriformis larvae; the number of worms recovered was nearly doubled. Similarly- administration of AES resulted in a significant diminution of acquired immunity to a secondary infection. These results are consistent with the view that eoxinophils are important in susceptibility and acquired immunity to infection with T. colubriformis in the guinea-pig. Because T. colubriformis infection is confined to the intestinal tract, our results also suggest that eosinophils may be involved in resistance to parasites at the level of the intestinal mucosa.

Animals↗