Allergen-specific IgG antibody levels modify the relationship between allergen-specific IgE and wheezing in childhood

Adnan Custovic, Lars Soderstrom, Staffan Ahlstedt, Peter D. Sly, Angela Simpson, Patrick G. Holt

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Background: An increase in IgE antibody levels to inhalant allergens is associated with an increased likelihood of wheezing. The role of allergen-specific IgG and IgG4 in relation to wheezing is yet to be determined. Objective: We sought to investigate whether Fel d 1-specific IgG and IgG4 antibodies modify the association between cat allergen-specific IgE and childhood wheezing. Methods: We used data from 2 population-based birth cohorts (United Kingdom [UK], n = 473; Australia, n = 1336). Current wheeze was defined as wheezing in the previous 12 months at age 5 (UK) and 14 (Australia) years. We determined cat allergen-specific IgE (whole extract) and IgG and IgG4 antibody (purified rFel d 1) levels and used logistic regression to estimate the relationship between wheeze and the quantitative allergen antibody levels. Results: In the univariate analysis risk of wheezing increased significantly with increasing cat-specific IgE levels (UK: odds ratio [OR], 1.56; 95% CI, 1.28-1.90; Australia: OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.19-1.40). rFel d 1-specific IgG or IgG4 had no significant effect on wheeze in either population. However, a different pattern of the relationship between antibody levels and wheezing emerged in the multivariate analysis. In the UK cat-specific IgE increased the risk of wheeze (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.29-3.12; P = .002), whereas rFel d 1-specific IgG decreased the risk (OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.21-0.99; P = .05). This finding was replicated in Australia (IgE: OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.28-1.68; P <.001; IgG: OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.44-0.99; P = .049). There was no significant association between IgG4 antibody levels and wheezing in either population. Conclusions: rFel d 1-specific IgG but not IgG4 antibody levels significantly modify the association between cat-specific IgE and childhood wheezing, with the risk of symptoms decreasing with increasing IgG levels. © 2011 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1480-1485
    Number of pages5
    JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
    Volume127
    Issue number6
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jun 2011

    Keywords

    • Asthma
    • birth cohorts
    • IgE
    • IgG
    • IgG4

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