Immunoglobulin G subclass antibody responses in influenza A and parainfluenza type 1 virus infections

Antibody responses in immunoglobulin G1, G2, G3, G4, A (IgA1) and M isotypes were studied in 10 patients with an acute influenza A and in another 10 patients with a parainfluenza type 1 virus infection using radioimmunoassay with standardized monoclonal anti-immunoglobulins. A four-fold or greater increase of antibody in patients have an acute influenza A virus infection, were found in IgG1 (all 10 cases), IgG3 (seven cases), IgG4 (eight cases) and in IgA1 (six cases) whereas IgG2 and IgM responses were observed only in one and three cases, respectively. The antibody titre values were converted to immunoglobulin units by multiplying the titre by a pre-determined correction coefficient compensating for the varying affinity of the individual monoclonal anti-immunoglobulins. These units were then used to calculate the actual proportions of each isotype. In the convalescent phase, 78% of total anti-influenza A antibodies were estimated to be of IgG1 isotype and other immunoglobulin isotypes varied from 3 to 7% of total. Similar results in parainfluenza virus antibodies were obtained with serum pairs from patients with an acute parainfluenza virus infection.