Aberrant IgG subclass distribution to measles in healthy seropositive individuals, in patients with SSPE and in immunoglobulin-deficient patients

Abstract

SUMMARY Sera from healthy seropositive donors, patients with acute measles, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, common variable immunodeficiency, and CH gene deletions were analysed for anti-measles IgG1–4. Compared with other anti-viral immune responses of IgGl and IgG3, an unusual predominance of specific IgGl prevailed; only four out of a total of 68 patients showed anti-measles IgG3. Of the 17 healthy, measles seropositive serum donors, all showed specific IgGl, none showed IgG3 and six had IgG4. Eight out of 10 patients with SSPE showed an anti-measles IgGl and IgG4 response while IgG3 was not seen. The IgGl and IgG4 subclass patterns had some exceptions. Antimeasles IgG3 was found in five out of five patients with deletion of the γ-1 encoding gene segments and in four out of 15 patients with recent measles antigen stimulation. The subclass pattern was suggested to reflect the immunological compromise associated with measles infections.