Immunological Aspects in Allergy of Respiratory Tracts

Type I allergic reaction in the allergic respiratory diseases were studied clinically from immunopathological, immunochemistrical (IgE, S-IgA), bronchial hypersensitivity and immunogenetical points of view.1. IgE and IgA in the respiratory tracts.IgA, IgG, IgE and IgM producing cells in normal and diseased bronchial and lung tissues were considered plasma cells of bronchus and alveolus.Secretory IgA levels in nasal and bronchial washings in patients with bronchial asthma and nasal allergy were the similar tendency in normal indiveduals, although IgE levels were markedly increased. Many cases with respiratory infection had higher Secretory IgA levels in nasal and bronchial washings than the patients with allergic asthma.2. Bronchial hypersensitivity and allergy in respiratory tract.An increased respiratory resistance and decreased FEV1.0, T50/VC and V25/VC by methacholine inhalation were recognized in the patients with asthma and clear hypereactivity in upper and peripheral air ways was revealed in those patients compared with the patients of respiratory diseases without asthma and normal individuals.The response to methacholine was suppressed by the treatments of spesific hyposensitization and corticosteroid.The levels of plasma prostaglandins (PGS) were increased in the patients with asthma, especially the PGS levels in the asthmatic attack were markedly higher than the attack free interval. There are significant relation between PGF1/PGF2α ratio and the bronchial constriction.3. Relation to human leukocyte locus A (HL-A).High frequency of the HL-A 9 in the first sublocus and W 5, 10 in the second subloeus were seen in the patients with allergic asthma and nasal allergy. However, the frequency of the spesific HL-A antigen was not seen in the patients with asthma and nasal allergy by the familial studies.