Subclass distribution of IgG and IgA responses to rubella virus in man.

Monoclonal anti-subclass antibodies were used in a micro-ELISA method to determine rubella-specific IgG subclass antibodies in serum from 22 subjects who had acute rubella or had been vaccinated, from 10 infants with congenital rubella, and in serum and synovial fluid samples from 21 patients with chronic arthritis. In nearly all samples IgG1 was the only type of IgG antibody detected. In acute infections it was present within 10 days of the onset of the rash. IgG4 antibody was detected in sera from two immune individuals. Rubella-specific IgA1 subclass antibody was detected by the same technique in sera from 6 of 12 subjects with acute rubella as early as 3 days but not later than 28 days after the appearance of the rash.