Volume 14, Number 3, March 1994 OLAC Newsletter

Digitized March 1994 issue of the OLAC Newsletter

Volume 15, Number 1, March 1995 OLAC Newsletter

Digitized March 1995 issue of the OLAC Newsletter

Volume 16, Number 2, June 1996 OLAC Newsletter

Digitized June 1996 issue of the OLAC Newsletter

Volume 14, Number 3, June 1994 OLAC Newsletter

Digitized June 1994 issue of the OLAC Newsletter

Volume 14, Number 4, December 1994 OLAC Newsletter

Digitized December 1994 issue of the OLAC Newsletter

Volume 15, Number 4, December 1995 OLAC Newsletter

Digitized December 1995 issue of the OLAC Newsletter

Cigarette smoking differentially affects immunoglobulin class levels in serum and saliva: An investigation and review

The aim of the present study was to compare concentrations of IgG, IgA, IgM and IgD in both serum and saliva samples from smoking and non-smoking subjects using a protein microarray assay. The findings were also compared to previous studies. Serum and saliva were collected from 48 smoking male subjects and 48 age-matched neversmoker male subjects. The protein microarray assays for detection of human IgG, IgM, IgA and IgD were established and optimized using Ig class-specific affinity purified goat anti-human Ig-Fc capture antibodies and horseradish peroxidase (HRP)- conjugated goat anti-human Ig-Fc detection antibodies. The Ig class specificity of the microarray assays was verified and the optimal dilutions of serum and saliva samples was determined for quantification of Ig levels against standard curves. We found that smoking is associated with reduced IgG concentrations and enhanced IgA concentrations in both serum and saliva. By contrast, smoking differentially affected IgM concentrations – causing increased concentrations in serum, but decreased concentrations in saliva. Smoking was associated with decreased IgD concentrations in serum, and did not have a significant effect on the very low IgD concentrations in saliva. Thus, cigarette smoking differentially affects the levels of Ig classes systemically and in the oral mucosa. Although there is variation between the results of different published studies, there is a consensus that smokers have significantly reduced levels of IgG in both serum and saliva. A functional antibody deficiency associated with smoking may compromise the body’s response to infection and result in a predisposition to the development of autoimmunity

IgE autoantibodies and their association with the disease activity and phenotype in Bullous Pemphigoid: a systematic review

Bullous Pemphigoid (BP) is the most common autoimmune skin disease of blistering character. The underlying pathophysiological mechanism involves an immune attack, usually by IgG class autoantibodies, on the autoantigen BP 180/BPAg2, which is a type XVII collagen (COL17) protein acting as the adhesion molecule between the epidermis and the basement membrane of the dermis. About 40 years ago, following consistent findings of elevated total serum IgE levels in BP patients, it was hypothesized that IgE may be involved in the pathophysiology of BP. Our objective was to determine whether there is strong evidence for an association between IgE class autoantibodies and the clinical severity or phenotype of BP. Three databases were searched for relevant studies and appropriate exclusion and inclusion criteria were applied. Data was extracted and assessed in relation to the study questions concerning the clinical significance of IgE autoantibodies in BP. Nine studies found that anti-BP180 autoantibodies of IgE class are associated with increased severity of BP, whereas two studies did not find such an association. The number of studies which found an association between higher IgE autoantibody levels and the erythematous urticarial phenotype of BP (5) were equal in number to the studies which found no such association (5). In conclusion, higher serum IgE autoantibody levels are associated with more severe clinical manifestations of BP. There is insufficient evidence to support higher IgE autoantibody levels being associated with specific clinical phenotypes of BP

Volume 15, Number 3, September 1995 OLAC Newsletter

Digitized September 1995 issue of the OLAC Newsletter

Volume 14, Number 3, September 1994 OLAC Newsletter

Digitized September 1994 issue of the OLAC Newsletter