IgG-mediated immune reactions are probably involved in the maintenance of
gastritis and glandular
atrophy; the mucosal
IgG-subclass pattern may therefore influence the effect of local
hypersensitivity mechanisms. In this study the proportions of IgG1-, IgG2-, IgG3-, and IgG4-producing immunocytes were determined by paired immunofluorescence staining in specimens from simple
gastritis,
gastritis after
Billroth II (BII) resection, and
gastritis associated with
dermatitis herpetiformis (DH). The results were related to histopathological degree of
inflammation and
atrophy. Generally,
IgG1 immunocytes predominated (48-60%) in all types of
gastritis. With increasing severity of
inflammation, the IgG2-cell proportion was significantly increased from 4-6% to 26-34% in simple and BII
gastritis, whereas the ratio of
IgG1 immunocytes was correspondingly decreased from 58-69% to 38-43%. In the same types of
gastritis the proportion of
IgG3 cells was increased in association with severe (35-38%) compared with mild (15-23%)
atrophy, whereas the proportion of
IgG1 cells was correspondingly decreased. In severe
gastritis associated with DH, the proportion of
IgG1 cells was relatively high (60%) and that of
IgG2 cells relatively low (13%), and severe
atrophy did not seem to influence significantly the subclass proportions.