Measurement of IgG blocking antibodies: development and application of a radioimmunoassay

A radioimmunoassay for measuring blocking antibodies has been developed. The authors used the ragweed antigen E system to show that the same blocking antibodies (IgG) measured by inhibition of antigen induced leukocyte histamine release were precipitated in the binding assay (r8 = 0.96, p <0.001), thus validating a widely applicable technique for measuring blocking antibodies. Binding of phospholipase A (Phos A), the major allergen in honey bee venom, was also shown to correlate significantly with inhibition of histamine release. Hymenoptera (insect) hypersensitivity was used as a model to demonstrate application of the binding assay. Sera obtained from patients undergoing whole body extract therapy contained negligible amounts of specific blocking antibodies. Significantly higher blocking antibody titers to both whole honey bee venom and Phos A were measured in sera drawn from patients immunized with whole venom. The use of the binding radioimmunoassay should facilitate management of allergic disease processes in which blocking antibodies are thought to be protective.