Biomaterial Database

Immunoglobulin A subclass distribution in serum from patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. 1991

P Cassulis, and R Farhangfar, and V A DeBari

Department of Medicine, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, School of Graduate Medical Education, Paterson, NJ 07503.

Immunoglobulin levels are elevated in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and one class, IgA, has been suggested as a marker of disease progression. IgA is composed of two subclasses, IgA1 and IgA2; circulating IgA1 is roughly 85% of the total in healthy individuals. We have attempted to determine if the subclass distribution in the serum of AIDS patients is similar to that of healthy subjects. IgA subclasses were measured by end-point radial immunodiffusion (RID). Sera from 27 AIDS patients and 27 controls who approximated the age and sex composition of the AIDS group were studied. Total IgA by RID, i.e., the sum of IgA1 and IgA2, correlated well with IgA determined by rate nephelometry (n = 51; r = 0.918; p less than 0.0001). Total IgA (IgAT), IgA1 and IgA2 were significantly elevated in the AIDS group (p less than 0.0001, p = 0.0001 and p = 0.033, respectively). However, the AIDS patients had a roughly equivalent percent IgA1 of total (87.2 +/- 7.6%) as the control group (85.0 +/- 6.1%). The subclass distribution is not altered in AIDS patients, and serum concentrations of IgA subclasses do not reflect possible alterations in secretory IgA which might be expected because of recurrent mucosal infections in these patients; nor is the subclass distribution altered due to clearance of predominantly IgA1-bearing immune complexes.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007070	Immunoglobulin A	Represents 15-20% of the human serum immunoglobulins, mostly as the 4-chain polymer in humans or dimer in other mammals. Secretory IgA (IMMUNOGLOBULIN A, SECRETORY) is the main immunoglobulin in secretions.	IgA,IgA Antibody,IgA1,IgA2,Antibody, IgA
D008297	Male		Males
D009391	Nephelometry and Turbidimetry	Chemical analysis based on the phenomenon whereby light, passing through a medium with dispersed particles of a different refractive index from that of the medium, is attenuated in intensity by scattering. In turbidimetry, the intensity of light transmitted through the medium, the unscattered light, is measured. In nephelometry, the intensity of the scattered light is measured, usually, but not necessarily, at right angles to the incident light beam.	Turbidimetry,Nephelometry,Turbidimetry and Nephelometry
D005260	Female		Females
D005779	Immunodiffusion	Technique involving the diffusion of antigen or antibody through a semisolid medium, usually agar or agarose gel, with the result being a precipitin reaction.	Gel Diffusion Tests,Diffusion Test, Gel,Diffusion Tests, Gel,Gel Diffusion Test,Immunodiffusions,Test, Gel Diffusion,Tests, Gel Diffusion
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000163	Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome	An acquired defect of cellular immunity associated with infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a CD4-positive T-lymphocyte count under 200 cells/microliter or less than 14% of total lymphocytes, and increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and malignant neoplasms. Clinical manifestations also include emaciation (wasting) and dementia. These elements reflect criteria for AIDS as defined by the CDC in 1993.	AIDS,Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Immunologic Deficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndromes,Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndromes,Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Immuno-Deficiency Syndromes, Acquired,Immunodeficiency Syndromes, Acquired,Syndrome, Acquired Immuno-Deficiency,Syndrome, Acquired Immunodeficiency,Syndromes, Acquired Immuno-Deficiency,Syndromes, Acquired Immunodeficiency