Significance of ovomucoid- and ovalbumin-specific IgE/IgG(4) ratios in egg allergy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The role of specific IgG(4) antibodies in natural tolerance acquisition remains a matter of debate; the specific IgE/IgG(4) ratio might add value to the measurement of absolute amounts of IgE for assessing the ongoing status of egg reactivity.

OBJECTIVE:

We sought to determine the significance of IgG(4) antibodies to ovalbumin (OVA) and ovomucoid (OVM) in egg-allergic children.

METHODS:

One hundred seven egg-allergic children (mean age 6.9 years; range 1.6-18.6 years) were challenged to baked egg. The outcomes of the challenges were related to the level of specific IgE and IgG(4) to OVM and OVA, component IgE/IgG(4) ratios, and mediator release in a functional assay based on the rat basophil leukemia cell line.

RESULTS:

Baked egg-reactive children had significantly higher OVA and OVM ratios of IgE/IgG(4) and mediator release in the rat basophil leukemia-based assay than did tolerant children (P < .05 for both). The OVA- and OVM-specific IgE/IgG(4) ratios and mediator release were correlated. In the receiver operating characteristic analysis, the areas under the curve for a logistic regression model including specific IgE and IgG(4) to OVA and OVM were significantly greater compared with the areas under the curve for egg white-specific IgE and OVM-specific IgE.

CONCLUSIONS:

The balance between IgE and IgG(4) to OVA and OVM has functional consequences. A model that includes the interactions between IgE and IgG(4) to OVA and OVM accurately predicts reactivity to baked egg and warrants further investigation.

• Authors: Jean Christoph Caubet, Ramon Bencharitiwong, Erin Moshier, James H Godbold, Hugh A Sampson, Anna Nowak-Węgrzyn
• Journal: The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology (J Allergy Clin Immunol) Vol. 129 Issue 3 Pg. 739-47 (Mar 2012) ISSN: 1097-6825 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22277199 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Immunoglobulin G
• Ovomucin
• Immunoglobulin E
• Ovalbumin

Topics

• Adolescent
• Animals
• Basophil Degranulation Test
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Egg Hypersensitivity (diagnosis, immunology)
• Eggs (adverse effects)
• Feasibility Studies
• Female
• Humans
• Immune Tolerance
• Immunization
• Immunoglobulin E (blood)
• Immunoglobulin G (blood)
• Infant
• Male
• Ovalbumin (adverse effects, immunology)
• Ovomucin (adverse effects, immunology)
• Prognosis
• Rats