IGA AND IGG ANTIBODIES AGAINST SURFACE-ANTIGENS OF PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA IN SPUTUM AND SERUM FROM PATIENTS WITH CYSTIC-FIBROSIS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 87  (3) , 229-233
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients (11) chronically infected in the lungs with mucoid P. aeruginosa and presenting multiple precipitins in serum agains this bacterium (CF + P) and 10 CF patients without P. aeruginosa infection (CF-P) had their serum and sputum sol phase specimens examined for antibodies [Ab] of the Ig[immunoglobulin]A and IgG classes against surface antigens of P. aeruginosa by an indirect immunofluorescence technique. The IgA and the IgG Ab titers demonstrated in serum and sputum of the CF + P patients were significantly higher than in those of the CF-P patients (P < 0.01). The titer of IgA Ab in the sputum was higher than in serum in 3 cases indicating local pulmonary production of specific IgA Ab. The role of the demonstrated Ab in the local pulmonary immune defense mechanisms and the possible pathogenesis of the pulmonary tissue damage in CF patients is discussed.