Precipitating Antibodies Against Haemophilus Influenzae and Staphylococcus Aureus in Sputum and Serum From Patients With Cystic Fibrosis

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Abstract
Serum and sputum sol phase from 23 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) were examined for occurrence and titers of precipitins against H. influenzae and S. aureus by crossed immunoelectrophoresis with intermediate gel. The patients had 4-9 H. influenzae precipitins in serum and in most cases fewer precipitins in sputum; on an average there was no difference between the titers of antibodies in serum and sputum. Most antibodies were cross-reactive with other species, notably those of the Haemophilus genus. S. aureus precipitins were generally found in higher numbers in serum than in sputum; on an average the titer of the precipitins in sputum was higher than in serum. Three precipitins were detectable only in sputum and not in serum; 1 was a S. aureus-specific precipitin. Most antibodies were cross-reactive with other species; these antibodies were often present in sputum in much higher titers than in the corresponding sera. Antibodies against teichoic acid of the S. aureus cell wall were not demonstrated in sputum; they were present in 22 sera. The possible role of the local pulmonary humoral immune response in protective immunity and in the pathology of the lung disease in CF is discussed.

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