The antibody response to methyl isocyanate: experimental and clinical findings

Sera from 99 subjects exposed to the industrial gas leak in Bhopal on December 2, 1984 were studied along with sera from guinea pigs exposed to methyl isocyanate (MIC) to determine the production of antibodies specific to (MIC). Each of the four guinea pigs injected with the reactive isocyanate produced MIC-specific antibodies in titres of 1:5120 to 1:10240, when tested with MIC-guinea pig albumin antigen conjugate. Analogous antigens prepared by reaction of MIC with human serum albumin were used to probe production of antibodies in 264 serially obtained human sera from 99 subjects from Bhopal. MIC-specific antibodies belonging to IgG, IgM and IgE classes were detected in eleven subjects. Though titres were low and transient (declining after several months) these findings indicate that the single large exposure to MIC resulted in an immunologic response. This finding was concomitant with chronic respiratory effects following MIC exposure.