Immune response to bee venom. II. Quantitation of the absolute amounts of IgE and IgG antibodies by saturation analysis.

We have measured in allergic and non-allergic beekeepers IgE and IgG antibodies to the bee venom allergens, phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and hyaluronidase (HYAL), by the radioallergosorbent test (RAST) and a 125I-radiolabelled antigen-binding assay. The absolute amount of IgG antibody in a reference serum was determined by saturation analysis using 125I-radiolabelled PLA2 and HYAL. Using monoclonal anti-IgE coated microtitre plates, the absolute amount of IgE antibody to the same antigen was also determined by saturation analysis. Regardless of the IgE response to the different allergens, IgG antibody concentrations to PLA2 were invariably higher than those to HYAL. In addition, the ratio of IgG to IgE antibody was higher for PLA2 (220:1) than for HYAL (10:1). Higher levels of IgG antibody to both allergens (especially HYAL) were found in those who had had prolonged exposure to bee stings. These data suggest that the level of IgG antibody produced is related to the dose administered, while the amount of IgE antibody may be regulated by other factors.