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Updated: Jan 24, 2026

Sublingual Immunotherapy as an Alternative to Induce Protection Against Acute Respiratory Infections
Published on: August 30, 2014
Role of Phosphorylcholine-Specific Immunoglobulin M in Acute Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
Junichiro Ohori1, Tomohiro Jimura1, Yuichi Kurono1
11 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to clarify the role of serum phosphorylcholine (PC)-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) as a natural antibody against infectious diseases.
Methods:
The relationship between serum PC-specific IgM level and C-reactive protein level or white blood cell counts was examined in patients with severe upper respiratory tract infections (ie, acute epiglottitis and peritonsillar abscess).
Results:
PC-specific IgM level was significantly negatively correlated with C-reactive protein level and white blood cell count. In addition, C-reactive protein level and white blood cell count was significantly lower in women than in men, whereas PC-specific IgM level was significantly higher in women.
Conclusions:
PC-specific IgM is suggested to have protective and suppressive effects against the progression of infectious and inflammatory reactions. Higher levels of PC-specific IgM in women might be one of the reasons why the incidence and severity of acute epiglottitis and peritonsillar abscess are lower in women.
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