[Sublingual immunotherapy--coming of age?].

Background: Immunotherapy is the only therapeutic modality in allergic patients with long lasting effects on the reactivity of the immune system to specific allergen exposure. Classical, subcutaneous, immunotherapy is associated with ubiquitous local and rare but potentially life-threatening systemic side effects. Sublingual immunotherapy is a relatively new modality of treatment, utilizing daily gradually increasing concentrations of allergen that are placed sublingually for a few minutes and swallowed afterwards.

[Sublingual immunotherapy for allergic diseases].

4 patients suffering from severe pollinosis and/or allergic rhinitis, with or without asthma, were treated as follows: 30 minutes before breakfast the vaccine was dropped sublingually and retained for 2-3 minutes before being swallowed. It was a commercial preparation of allergen, diluted 50% w/v in glycerin. This stock solution was then diluted in physiological saline containing 0.

[Sublingual immunotherapy].

We treated 14 patients with severe pollinosis or allergic rhinitis with its specific allergen by the sublingual route. Increasing doses of the allergen were given as drops. There was marked improvement in allergic symptoms in 12.

Comparative analysis of HLA polymorphism at the serologic and molecular level in Moroccan and Ashkenazi Jews.

The Jewish people comprise two major groups, one encompassing the Jews of Ashkenazi (Central and Eastern European) origin and the other including those of Sephardic (Middle Eastern and North African) descent. To the latter belong the Jews of Moroccan stock, who form the largest Jewish subgroup among the non-Ashkenazi population living in Israel. As the members of each of these groups differ in physiognomy and life style, it was of interest to investigate whether these differences are also reflected in their respective HLA compositions.

Serologic and molecular analysis of the HLA system in Israeli Jewish patients with oral erosive lichen planus.

Oral erosive lichen planus is a distinct subtype of the common dermatosis lichen planus. Although the etiology of lichen planus is still obscure, it is known that cell-mediated immune mechanisms and genetic factors underlie its pathogenesis. Previous studies have found an association between lichen planus and HLA-DR3 or DR9 in different population groups.

Determination of surface bound and shed HLA antigens of amniotic cells by ELISA.

HLA typing of amniotic cells for clinical purposes using the conventional cytotoxicity assay is a laborious and complicated procedure. In the present study we demonstrate that HLA class I typing of the fetus can be determined using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) either on amniotic cells or soluble free antigens shed by the cells into the culture medium. Our results indicate that the ELISA technique is a sensitive and reliable assay that can be used as an alternative method of HLA class I typing of amniotic cells.

Differential expression of HLA class-I antigens on B and T lymphocytes obtained from human lymphoid tissues.

The amount of HLA class-I antigens was determined on the surface of enriched populations of B and T lymphocytes obtained from human peripheral blood, lymph nodes and spleens. The assays were performed using monoclonal antibodies that recognize different determinants on HLA class-I antigens and utilizing a simple and sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Our results indicate that B lymphocytes obtained from human peripheral blood, lymph nodes and spleens express at least twice as many HLA class-I antigens as T lymphocytes obtained from the same organs.

Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) class I and class II on sperm cells studied at the serological, cellular, and genomic levels.

The expression of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) on highly purified human ejaculated sperm cells was studied using the sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique and a wide panel of monoclonal antibodies to class I and class II HLA. In addition, the stimulatory capacity of these cells was tested in mixed cultures of lymphocytes and spermatozoa, and the levels of RNA homologous to the HLA class I and class II genes were determined. The results obtained using the ELISA indicate that the class I and class II HLA serologically defined antigens are weakly expressed on the cell surface of the mature spermatozoa.

An enzyme immunoassay for the detection of antisperm antibodies.

A simple and reliable enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of antisperm antibodies has been developed in our laboratory. The antigen for the solid phase was produced by sperm sonication while antihuman globulin conjugated to alkaline phosphatase was used as the developing reagent. The conditions and reagents of the assay were chosen to give a mild treatment of the antigen, simple manipulation during washing steps, and nontoxic and readily available reagents.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for determination of HLA: gene dose effect.

In a previous publication we demonstrated that polymorphic HLA antigens could be detected on fresh and dried peripheral blood lymphocytes using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with HLA alloantisera (Bishara et al. 1983). In the present study we investigated whether the ELISA technique can be used in determination of gene-dose effect for antigens of the HLA-A and B loci.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for HLA determination on fresh and dried lymphocytes.

HLA-A and -B antigens were detected on fresh and dried peripheral blood lymphocytes by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Intact cells fixed to plates with glutaraldehyde were used as antigen and anti-HLA alloantisera as a source of antibodies. Determination of HLA antigens by the ELISA technique was comparable with the complement-dependent cytotoxicity test.

Non-specific normal immunosuppressive protein (Nip): purification and further biochemical characterization.

The non-specific normal immunosuppressive protein (Nip) has been described in our laboratory and its biological activity was extensively studied. In the present study, further purification analyses of Nip were conducted. Fractionation of Nip by Ultrogel AcA 34 column resulted in peak (I) that displayed Nip activity in that it exhibited marked inhibition of in-vitro blastogenic responses of human lymphocytes to mitogenic stimulation, in vitro it inhibited EL4 tumour-cell proliferation.

HLA-D "BG" in Israel. A Japanese related allele population and family study.

An homozygous typing cell for a local HLA-D determinant"BG", defined by family study, is described. HLA-D "BG" recognizes a specificity identical to the Japanese HLA-DHO (Dw12). Two families and 102 randomly selected healthy Israeli individuals were typed for the HLA-D "BG" determinant.

Mixed lymphocyte reactivity nonresponsiveness in couples with multiple spontaneous abortions.

We have endeavored to ascertain the possible existence of deviant recognition of antigens controlled by the major histocompatibility complex by lymphocytes originating in couples with a history of multiple spontaneous abortions of unknown cause. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing, as well as one-way mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) tests, were performed on 33 couples with multiple spontaneous abortions and subsequently compared to 30 fertile couples with no abortion history. No significant differences in the frequency of HLA were detected between the fertile and infertile groups.

The inhibitory effect of normal immunosuppressive protein on lymphocytes mediating natural killing activity.

Normal immunosuppressive protein (Nip) was found to have a marked in vitro inhibitory effect on lymphocytes mediating natural cytotoxic activity against the myeloid cell line K-562. The inhibitory activity of Nip was most marked when tested at an effector: target cell ratio of 10:1. When Nip was washed away, a significant recovery of the cytotoxic activity of the natural killer (NK) cells occurred.

Disputed parentage due to exchanged babies solved by HLA.

Two female newborns were suspected of having been exchanged. Each baby was tested for blood groups ABO, Rh and MN; for isoenzymes ADA, AcP1, GLO, PGM1, AK1 and for Hp; and for HLA-A and B phenotypes. In family 1 the baby girls was excluded on the basis of ADA, GLO, PGM1, AK1, Hp and HLA phenotypes.

HLA-DRw4 in pemphigus vulgaris patients in Israel.

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is relatively common in Jews. Three HLA antigens were significantly more frequent in 39 Israeli Jewish PV patients than in controls A26 - 59% vs 20%; Bw38 - 61% vs 20%; and DRw4 - 90% vs 38%. The joint occurrence of A26-Bw38-DRw4 was observed in 46% of PV patients and in 10% of controls.

Normal immunosuppressive protein. Isolation of a glycoprotein active fraction.

Experiments to determine the nature of the active moiety of Normal immunosuppressive protein (Nip) were performed using Sepharose Con A fractionation. Nip was found to be a glycoprotein or a glycopeptide. The fraction eluted by 0.

Normal immunosuppressive protein: in vitro inhibition of DNA synthesis in T and B lymphocytes and lymphoid cell lines.

The biologic activity of normal immunosuppressive protein (NIP) isolated from human plasma was studied. NIP was found to inhibit the proliferation of both T and B lympohcytes in vitro. It suppressed the DNA synthesis of normal mouse lymphocytes responding to the mitogens phytohemagglutinin and lipopolysaccharide, as well as the [3H]Thymidine and [3H]leucine uptake by T and B lymphoid cell lines of human and murine origin.