Immune modulation mediated by preformed antigen-antibody complexes : its application to human immediate hypersensitivity diseases
(1992)
Files
247455_Saint-Remy_These.pdf
Restricted Access - Adobe PDF
- 38.89 MB
Details
- Authors
- Supervisors
- Masson, Pierre L., 1948-
- Abstract
- Delving through the literature on antigen-antibody complexes, one cannot help being astonished by the steadily increasing number of papers written on this subject over the last thirty years. Although this no doubt reflects the fundamental scientific interest if the subject matter, it may also be indicative of its intrinsic complexity. A great variety of antigen-antibody complexes have been studied through the years and they have been found to exert widely disparate – or even contradictory – effects on the immune system. Complexes have been used both to enhance or suppress an immune response, and so it was recognized early on that they could represent a powerful means of influencing the immune system. The interplay of numerous parameters determines the ultimate outcome on the immune system; the antigen to antibody ratio, the isotype of the antibody, the capacity to activate complement and the source of antibody – be it isologous or heterolous – are but a few of the factors capable of influencing profoundly the handling of complexes by the host. Several reviews have appeared in this subject, but there are so many variables involved that they tend other to focus on narrow aspects of the subjects (e.g., introduction of rheumatoid factor) or to remain at a general theoretical level. None of these reviews deal, event in a pragmatic fashion, with the practical application of antigen-antibody complexes, i.e., the potential of using complexes for therapeutic purposes. I venture to hope that this thesis may go some way to fill this void. <BR> During the last few years we have studied the use of antigen-antibody complexes for the treatment of human diseases that are characterized by an “inappropriate” production of antibodies. In this context, I mean by inappropriate the production of antibodies that is deemed to have a direct detrimental effect on the organism that produces them. For reasons which will be gone into a fully later, the first system my coworkers and I decided to investigate is that of the IgE antibody immune response of atopic individuals towards antigens present in an airborne form in the environment, and so most f this thesis will deal with the use of antigen-antibody complexes in the treatment of human immediate hypersensitivity to allergens. <BR> I will focus on the results and experience gathered in our laboratory, first on the analysis of the immune response to allergens and then on the actual utilization of performed antigen-antibody complexes in immediate hypersensitivity. The experimental work that led us to clinical application will be outlined followed by the description of the clinical experience gained so far in human immediate hypersensitivity
- Affiliations
Citations
Saint-Remy, J.-M. R. (1992). Immune modulation mediated by preformed antigen-antibody complexes : its application to human immediate hypersensitivity diseases. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/111657