IGG SUBCLASS DISTRIBUTION OF ANTIBODIES AGAINST S-AUREUS TEICHOIC-ACID AND ALPHA-TOXIN IN NORMAL AND IMMUNODEFICIENT DONORS

Abstract

IgM, IgG, IgA and IgE class and IgG and IgA subclass levels were determined in eighteen IgG2-deficient and six IgG3-deficient donors. IgG2 deficiency was associated with concomitant IgG4, IgA (in particular IgA2) and IgE deficiency. This pattern is compatible with a regulation defect of the downstream switch in the H chain locus on chromosome 14. IgG3 subclass deficiency was not associated with further deficiencies. Specific anti-teichoic acid antibodies were lacking in most IgG2 deficient donors supporting the notion that anti-teichoic acid antibodies are normally of this subclass. This was also confirmed in a subclass-specific ELISA [enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay] using sera from normal donors although substantial amounts of specific IgG1 antibodies were also noted. Two IgG2-deficient donors had normal IgG titers (IgG1 in the subclass-specific ELISA), and the lack of IgG1 anti-teichoic acid antibodies in most IgG2-deficient donors may suggest a lack of muturation of the appropriate idiotype. IgG antibodies to .alpha.-toxin, a pure protein, were within the normal range in a large proportion of IgG2-deficient donors but largely normal in the IgG3-deficient donors.