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Opsonic activity in serum from septic infants treated with intravenous immunoglobulin
1Department of Paediatrics, University Medical School of Debrecen, Hungary.
Insights
Acid-treated immunoglobulin infusions improved opsonic activity in infants with staphylococcal sepsis. This treatment enhanced bacterial clearance by immune cells, offering a potential therapeutic strategy for sepsis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Staphylococcal sepsis in infants is associated with reduced opsonic activity, impairing bacterial clearance.
- Opsonic activity is crucial for phagocytosis and effective immune response against bacterial infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of acid-treated immunoglobulin infusions on opsonic activity in infants with staphylococcal sepsis.
- To assess changes in complement activity and immunoglobulin concentrations following treatment.
Main Methods:
- Thirteen infants with staphylococcal sepsis received acid-treated immunoglobulin (250-300 mg/kg/day) and antibiotics for three days.
- Serum opsonic activity against Staphylococcus aureus, complement hemolytic activity, and complement C3 and IgG concentrations were measured before and after treatment.
Main Results:
- Infusion of acid-treated immunoglobulin significantly increased opsonic activity in both fresh and heat-inactivated serum.
- Increased ingestion of S. aureus by human granulocytes was observed with post-treatment serum.
- Serum IgG concentrations increased, while complement activity and C3 levels remained unchanged.
Conclusions:
- Acid-treated immunoglobulin administration effectively enhances opsonic activity in septic infants.
- This functional improvement in opsonization suggests a potential therapeutic benefit for managing staphylococcal sepsis in neonates.
Abstract:
Thirteen infants with staphylococcal sepsis and reduced opsonic activity received infusions of acid treated immunoglobulin together with antibiotics. Opsonic activity (using Staphylococcus aureus (type 42D) as the test organism), haemolytic activity of complement, and concentrations of complement C3 and IgG were measured in serum prepared before and after three days of treatment with immunoglobulin at a dose of 250-300 mg/kg/day. There was increased ingestion of S aureus by normal human granulocytes in the presence of fresh serum prepared after infusion of immunoglobulin and significantly increased opsonic activity of heat inactivated serum after treatment with immunoglobulin. The haemolytic activity of complement and concentrations of complement C3 were not influenced, and serum concentrations of IgG increased as the result of receiving a total of 800-900 mg/kg immunoglobulin over a period of three days. This study shows that administration of acid treated IgG to septic infants leads to functionally increased opsonisation.