SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Immunity, Humoral”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,351 records · Page 75Linked to original sources

PubMed1995

Selective humoral immune response of Balb/C mice to Brucella abortus proteins expressed by vaccinia virus recombinants.

Genes encoding Brucella abortus Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) and a 54 kDa Escherichia coli HtrA homologue were cloned into shuttle plasmids pUV-1 and pSC11, and transfected into vaccinia virus to develop recombinants vUBSOD and vSB54. Control vaccinia virus recombinants vUV-1 and vSC11, carrying only the beta-gal reporter gene but no B. abortus DNA were also developed. Recombinants were analyzed in Western blotting using a polyclonal B. abortus immune serum. vUBSOD expressed a protein of apparent molecular weight of 28 kDa, composed of the 20 kDa B. abortus Cu/Zn-SOD and a protein approximately 8 kDa encoded by a portion of the vaccinia virus TK gene. vSB54 expressed a 54 kDa protein corresponding to the 54 kDa HtrA homologue. Recombinants vUSV-1 and vSC11 did not express B. abortus proteins. Groups of mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with 10(7) TCID50 of 1 of the 4 different recombinant vaccinia viruses and 5 weeks later their sera were analyzed for antibodies against vaccinia virus and B. abortus proteins. Each group of mice responded with antibodies to vaccinia virus. Sera of vSB54-inoculated mice recognized the 54 kDa HtrA homologue. vUBSOD did not induce a humoral immune response. These results represent the first report on the expression of B. abortus proteins by vaccinia virus recombinants and the first demonstrated immune response against a B. abortus protein expressed by such a recombinant.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Leptospirosis severity may be associated with the intensity of humoral immune response.

Leptospirosis severity may be increasing, with pulmonary involvement becoming more frequent. Does this increase result from an intense immune response to leptospire? Notice that renal failure, thrombocytopenia and pulmonary complications are found during the immune phase. Thirty-five hospitalized patients with Weil's disease had 5 blood samples drawn, from the 15th day to the 12th month of symptoms, for ELISA-IgM, -IgG and -IgA specific antibody detection. According their 1st IgG titer, the patients were divided into: group 1 (n = 13) titer > 1:400 (positive) and group 2 (n = 22) titer < or =1:400 (negative). Early IgG antibodies in group 1 showed high avidity which may indicate reinfection. Group 1 was older, had worse pulmonary and renal function, and fever for a longer period than group 2. Throughout the study, IgG and IgA titers remained higher in group 1. In conclusion, the severity of Weil's disease may be associated with the intensity of the humoral immune response to leptospire.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Cellular and humoral immune responses in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma after vaccination with antigen pulsed dendritic cells.

PURPOSE: Dendritic cells are the most potent stimulators of immune responses including antitumor responses. We performed a pilot study of cultured antigen loaded dendritic cells in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dendritic cells were obtained by culturing plastic adherent mononuclear cells from peripheral blood for 5 days in the presence of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-4. Day 5 dendritic cells were loaded with cell lysate from cultured autologous tumor cells and with the immunogenic protein keyhole-limpet hemocyanin (KLH) which serves as a helper antigen and as a tracer molecule. During the antigen pulse dendritic cells were activated with a combination of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and prostaglandin E2. Dendritic cells were administered by 3 intravenous infusions at monthly intervals. Cellular and humoral immune responses to KLH and cell lysate were measured in vitro before and after the vaccinations. RESULTS: Preparation of 12 dendritic cell vaccines from patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma was successful. Treatment with fully activated CD83+ dendritic cells was well tolerated with moderate fever as the only side effect. Potent immunological responses to KLH and, most importantly, against cell lysate could be measured in vitro after the vaccinations. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that a dendritic cell based vaccine can induce antigen specific immunity in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Dendritic cell based immunotherapy represents a feasible, well tolerated and promising new approach for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Regulation of the humoral immune response by polyspecific natural autoantibodies.

Two different BALB/c IgMk polyspecific monoclonal natural autoantibodies E7 and D23 were administered to neonatal BALB/c mice. When adults, these mice were immunized and challenged with calf myosin, BALB/c actin, human transferrin, calf thymus DNA or TNP-coupled bovine serum albumin (TNP/BSA), in complete Freund's adjuvant. The levels of serum antibody were evaluated by enzyme immunoassay. No differences in anti-actin, anti-transferrin and anti-DNA antibody titres were noted between control and antibody-treated mice. However, anti-myosin antibody titres significantly increased in mice treated with either the E7 or D23 antibody, and anti-TNP antibody titres significantly decreased in mice treated with E7 but not with D23. These differences persisted after antigenic challenge and involved only the IgG response of treated mice. These results suggest that polyspecific natural autoantibodies may be involved in the regulation of the humoral immune response.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

Is pregnancy immunosuppressive? Humoral immunity against viruses.

Serum samples were obtained during the first trimester, second trimester, third trimester, at delivery and 6 weeks postpartum from each of 50 pregnant women. All 250 sera were tested for their content of antibodies specific for herpes simplex, measles, rubella and influenza A viruses. The geometric mean titres of antiviral antibody were shown to decline by 18-48% between the times of booking and delivery, and to return to initial values by the end of the puerperium. By means of two-way analysis of variance, the major confounding variable of differences between individuals was identified and controlled for, so that the progression of pregnancy was shown significantly to decrease titres of antiviral antibody. After allowance was made for haemodilution, antibody levels against two viruses (herpes simplex, measles) still declined significantly while those for rubella and influenza viruses actually increased significantly, so that no consistent effect of pregnancy was demonstrable. We conclude that the declining titres of antiviral antibodies seen in pregnant women are predominantly a manifestation of haemodilution and discuss the reasons for believing that humoral immunity remains intact during pregnancy.

Antibodies, Viral↗

PubMed1999

Potent induction of focused Th1-type cellular and humoral immune responses by RTS,S/SBAS2, a recombinant Plasmodium falciparum malaria vaccine.

The RTS,S/SBAS2 vaccine confers sterile protection against Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite challenge. The mechanisms underlying this are of great interest, yet little is known about the immune effector mechanisms induced by this vaccine. The immune responses induced by RTS,S/SBAS2 were characterized in 10 malaria-naive volunteers. Several epitopes in the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) were identified as targets of cultured interferon (IFN)-gamma-secreting CD4+ T cells. RTS,S-specific IFN-gamma-secreting effector T cells were induced in 8 subjects; this ex vivo response mapped to a single peptide in Th2R. CSP-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes were not detected. RTS, S-specific IFN-gamma production was universal, whereas interleukin-4 and -5 production was rare. RTS,S-specific lymphoproliferative responses and antibodies to CSP were strongly induced in all volunteers. Responses waned with time but were boostable. Thus, RTS, S/SBAS2 is a potent inducer of Th1-type cellular and humoral immunity. These results highlight possible immune mechanisms of protection and have important implications for vaccine design in general.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Inducible nitric oxide synthase-deficient mice develop enhanced type 1 cytokine-associated cellular and humoral immune responses after vaccination with attenuated Schistosoma mansoni cercariae but display partially reduced resistance.

High levels of nitric oxide (NO) are produced by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in response to activating signals from Th1-associated cytokines and play an important role in cytotoxicity and cytostasis against many pathogenic microorganisms. In addition to its direct effector function, NO serves as a potent immunoregulatory factor. NO produced by gamma interferon-activated macrophages immobilizes and kills Schistosoma mansoni larvae, and several studies have indicated a role for this pathway in protective immunity against this parasite. The potential regulatory influence of NO in immunity to S. mansoni is less well understood. In this study, we have used iNOS-deficient mice to determine the role of NO in mice vaccinated with irradiated cercariae of S. mansoni. We show by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcriptase PCR analysis that vaccinated iNOS-deficient mice develop exacerbated type 1 cytokine responses in the lungs, the site where resistance to infection is primarily manifested. In addition, parasite-specific immunoglobulin G2a (IgG2a) and IgG2b antibody responses were significantly increased in vaccinated iNOS-deficient animals and total IgE antibody levels in serum were decreased relative to those in wild-type controls. Surprisingly, since resistance in this vaccine model is largely Th1 dependent and since Th1-related cellular and humoral immune responses were found to be exacerbated in vaccinated iNOS-deficient mice, vaccine-elicited protective immunity against challenge infection was found to be reduced. These findings demonstrate that iNOS plays a paradoxical role in immunity to S. mansoni, both in the effector mechanism of resistance and in the down regulation of the type 1 cytokine response, which is ultimately required for NO production.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Modulation of the development of humoral immunity by topically applied acetone, ethanol, and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate.

The effects of topically applied 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), acetone, and ethanol on systemic immune function were analyzed in SSIN mice. A total of one, four, or eight dorsal applications of solvent (50-300 microl/treatment, 2x/week) affected neither the overall cellularity of the spleen nor the relative proportions of splenic cells expressing CD4, CD8, or Ig surface markers. In contrast, overall cellularities of the spleen increased and relative T cell content of the spleen decreased in mice treated multiple times with TPA (2 microg/application in 0.2 ml acetone). The development of splenic B cells secreting IgM against sheep red blood cells (SRBC, a T-cell-dependent antigen) was retarded, and the overall duration of IgM synthesis was decreased, in mice immunized 1 hr after the last of four applications (>200 microl) of either solvent. Comparable retardations occurred in mice immunized as late as 7 days after termination of solvent treatment. However, solvent effects on the development of antibody-forming cells were not observed after eight topical applications or when TNP-LPS (a T-cell-independent antigen) was used as the immunogen. The effects of TPA on the development of IgM-secreting B cells were indistinguishable from those of the solvent used for its application. Although serum hemagglutination titers to SRBC correlated with the relative numbers of splenic B cells producing IgM, in vitro proliferative responses to B and T cell mitogens were not predictive of the effects of solvents or TPA on the development of antibody-secreting cells. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that topically applied acetone and ethanol can systemically modulate humoral immunity and emphasize the need for inclusion of nontreated controls when assessing the potential immunomodulatory activities of agents dissolved in acetone or ethanol.

Acetone↗

PubMed1988

[Effect of marginal zinc deficiency on humoral immunity in rats].

The purpose of this experiment was to examine the effects of a marginal zinc deficiency on serum immunoglobulin (Ig) IgM and IgG1 levels. 60 weanling female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups of ten animals each. Two control groups (73.7 ppm Zn) and two zinc-deficient groups (4.3 ppm Zn) were fed a semisynthetic casein diet ad libitum. The animals of two further groups received the control diet (73.7 ppm Zn) pair-fed to the zinc-deficient animals. After 15 days the rats of one group of each treatment were infected i.m. with a single injection (0.2 ml) of a bovine enterovirus, apathogenous to rats. 3 weeks later, all rats were anesthetized with ether and decapitated. Infection of the rats with the bovine enterovirus had no effect on the serum immunoglobulin level. The marginal zinc deficiency did not alter the IgM and IgG1 serum concentrations at all either. It remains to be examined whether other Ig-classes will react to marginal zinc deficiency. Also, the effect of severe zinc deficiency on the humoral immune system must be studied.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Humoral immune response to a 200-kDa glycoprotein antigen of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is common in man.

According to Heelan et al. patients suffering from Crohn's disease (CD) produce antibodies against a cell wall associated glycoprotein antigen gp200 of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, while healthy people do not. Here the authors show, that antibodies against this glycoprotein gp200 can also be detected in the sera of healthy humans. The intensity of the antibody titer which is measured by immunoblot experiments is independent from the state of health. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae specific gp200 is a highly glycosylated protein localized not only in the cell wall but also accumulated in the culture medium. Some of the tested sera from CD patients, as well as from healthy adults, also reacted with a 120-kDa glycoprotein which is to be found in preparations containing secreted proteins. Because the binding of antibodies is greatly reduced by periodate treatment of gp200 and by the 120-kDa polypeptide, it is very likely that their carbohydrate moieties are the antigenic determinants against which the specific human antibodies are directed. The human humoral immune response applies only to Saccharomyces cerevisiae antigens, because no analogous immune responses could be detected against antigens derived from the yeast Arxula adeninivorans.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Follicular dendritic cells in aging, a "bottle-neck" in the humoral immune response.

Senescence leads to the appearance of atrophic follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) that trap and retain little immune complexes (IC), generate few memory B cells, and induce a reduced number of germinal centers (GC). Deficiencies in antibody responses to T cell dependent exogenous antigens such as pneumonia and influenza vaccines may reflect intrinsic FDC defects or altered FDC-B cell interactions. We recently studied antigen handling capacity and co-stimulatory activity of old FDCs and determined age-related changes in the expression or function of FcgammaRII or CR1 and 2 on FDCs. Here, we present an overview of FDC function in recall responses with known deficiencies in FDCs and GC development. Then, we review our recent work on aged FDCs and discuss age-related changes in molecular interactions between FDCs and B cells. We also discuss the causes underlying the impaired humoral immune response with respect to age-related molecular changes in FDC and B cell interactions. In vitro evidence suggests that FcgammaRII on aged FDCs is regulated abnormally and this in turn might cause the development of a defective FDC-network (reticulum) that retains few ICs, promotes ITIM signaling, prevents B cell proliferation and GC formation, and antibody production.

Aging↗

PubMed2002

Identification of the nonclassical HLA molecules, mica, as targets for humoral immunity associated with irreversible rejection of kidney allografts.

BACKGROUND: A substantial portion of kidney allografted patients experience early acute rejection episodes and even irreversible rejections in the early posttransplantation period. The presence of HLA alloantibodies before grafting is associated with early immunological complications, but in many patients rejections and graft loss occur even in the absence of such antibodies. METHODS: In this study, 748 serum samples taken before and at various time points after kidney transplantation from 139 patients were investigated for the presence, frequency, and specificity of kidney microvascular endothelial cell (KMEC)-reactive antibodies using major histocompatability class (MHC) I-related chain A (MICA) transfected cells and flow cytometry, antibody blocking experiments, and Western blotting. The ability of MICA-specific antibodies to fix complement and to induce a prothrombotic phenotype in KMECs was investigated. RESULTS: A polymorphic, 62 kDa nonclassical HLA class I molecule is identified as a new target molecule for reactivity in sera from patients with irreversible rejections. Specific blocking and transfection experiments verified the target molecule as MICA. A significant correlation was established for pre- or posttransplantation MICA humoral immunity and graft loss (P<0.001). MICA-specific antibody titers increased in the posttransplantation period and were present before any signs of clinical rejection. MICA antibody-containing patient sera induced a prothrombotic phenotype in KMECs. CONCLUSION: The increasing polymorphism detected at the MIC loci combined with the results of this study suggest that typing for the MIC loci and crossmatching for the detection of anti-MIC antibodies before transplantation should be used routinely. A better recipient-donor selection based on a negative crossmatch for both anti-donor HLA and MICA antibodies will decrease early graft rejections and losses.

Antibody Formation↗

PubMed2004

Identification of a novel human cancer/testis antigen, KM-HN-1, recognized by cellular and humoral immune responses.

PURPOSE: We used serologic screening of a cDNA expression library of human testis to identify novel cancer/testis antigens that elicit both humoral and cellular immune responses in cancer patients. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND RESULTS: We identified a novel gene designated KM-HN-1 the expression of which is testis-specific among normal tissues; it contains coiled coil domains and a leucine zipper motif and encodes a putative protein consisting of 833 amino acids. KM-HN-1 expression was observed in various cancer tissues and cancer cell lines at both mRNA and protein levels. Immunofluorescence staining of an esophageal cancer cell line revealed that KM-HN-1 protein was present exclusively in the nucleus during mitosis. Recombinant KM-HN-1 protein was produced, and used for ELISA to quantitate levels of IgG antibody specific to KM-HN-1. Higher levels of IgG antibodies specific to KM-HN-1 were detected in many types and numbers of cancer patients but not in healthy donors. The CTL lines specific to KM-HN-1, generated from HLA-A*2402-positive healthy donors and cancer patients, killed human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A24-positive cancer cells expressing KM-HN-1 but not cell lines that did not express either KM-HN-1 or HLA-A24. CONCLUSIONS: We identified a novel cancer/testis antigen, KM-HN-1, which elicited humoral immune responses in patients with various types of cancer. Furthermore, KM-HN-1-specific CTLs could be generated from both healthy donors and cancer patients, which indicated that KM-HN-1 can be a candidate for an ideal target for cancer immunotherapy.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

PubMed1998

[The influence of cumulative dexamethasone, promethazine and dextran 70 used as protection against intraperitoneal adhesions on selected parameters of humoral immunity in women operated on for infertility].

One of the most frequent reasons of the intraperitoneal adhesions formation in young women is pelvic inflammatory disease and surgical operations of pelvic organs. The element of more complex activities against adhesion creation is to limit an inflammatory reaction in the area of operation by intraperitoneal and systemic pharmacotherapy. The system of activities put into practice in the Clinic of Gynaecology includes in the field of pharmacological prophylaxis a systemic and intraperitoneal use of dexamethasone and promethazine before, during and after the operation, in total doses respectively: 250 mg and 300 mg, as well as intraperitoneal dosing of 500 ml of dextran 70, just before closing the peritoneal cavity. Verification of the results of these activities during laparoscopy or laparotomy shows its high effectiveness. For many years we did not observe any complications of any wound healing after the operations. Due to existing reports about possible complications in the postoperation period, which are probably caused by the use of the above-mentioned pharmaceutics, I decided to investigate how dexamethasone, promethazine and dextran 70 influence the selected parameters of humoral resistance in women who were operated on due to mechanical infertility. The investigated group consisted of 30 women, while the control group comprised 10 women who had gynaecological operations of similar extent. The venal blood samples were collected before the operation and on the third, fifth and twenty first day after the operation. The levels of selected acute phase proteins were checked and the character as well as the dynamics of value changes were monitored in both groups. Because of great variability between the proteins the fractions were picked out focusing on the differences in dynamics of metabolism, half-life time and biological functions. Following proteins were investigated: C-reactive protein, alfa1-acid glycoprotein, haptoglobin, alfa1-antitripsin, ceruloplazmin, alpha2-macroglobin, hemopexin, immunoglobulins A, G, M, albumins, transferrin, alpha2-HS-glycoprotein. The analysis of the study results has indicated that the application of dexamethasone, promethazine and dextran 70 only exerts modulating influence on the course of acute phase reaction induced by the operations. In the group having been studied earlier (in 3rd postoperative 24-hours) significant changes were revealed concerning the level of particular proteins in accordance with their physiological character (increase or decrease of level) in the control group such changes appeared later (about 5th 24-hours) and were characterized by markedly smaller amplitude and dynamics (Tab. 1-2, Fig. 1-15). The levels of proteins defined prior to operation were reached faster by patients of the study group (up to 21st 24-hours after operation). It has been disclosed that the use of composed antiadhesion therapy with dexamethasone, promethazine and dextran 70 accelerates, intensifies and simultaneously restricts the duration of transformations defined as acute phase reaction, which result in reducing the number of intraperitoneal adhesions. This therapy does not impair the mechanisms of humoral immunity in patients operated on.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗

PubMed1976

IgM-mediated, T cell-independent suppression of humoral immunity.

The immunological unreactive state occurring in (T,G)-A-L nonresponder mice after secondary antigen challenge was investigated. Syngeneic IgM anti-(T,G)-A-L antibody-containing plasma, transferred at the time of the time of primary challenge, induced persistent suppression of autologous specific antibody production. Removal of plasma IgM with goat anti-mu antisera removed the ability of the plasma to supress. The induction and maintenance of the suppressed state were not different in thymectomized or sham-thymectomized animals. Primed animals subjected to graft-vs-host reaction (GVHR) at the time of secondary challenge switched over to IgG production. Animals suppressed by passive antibody transfer reacted to GVHR, at the time of secondary challenge, with specific IgM but not IgG antibody production. Transfused normal spleen cells partially abrogated suppression only when (suppressed) hosts had been lethally irradiated. Spleen cells from antigen-plus-antibody suppressed donors, upon transfer to previously normal, syngeneic hosts, were less immunocompetent than spleen cells from untreated donors. These data are consistent with a model of IgM mediated, T cell-independent persistent suppression of humoral immunity.

Animals↗

PubMed1980

Plasma membrane and intracellular lipid synthesis in tumor cells rendered resistant to humoral immune killing after treatment with hormones.

Line-10 hepatoma cells from Sewall Wright guinea pigs are sensitive to killing by antibody plus human complement. Hormones that decrease the sensitivity of the cells to antibody-complement-mediated killing (insulin and hydrocortisone) were examined for their effects on the ability of the cells to synthesize and incorporate specific lipids into plasma membrane and intracellular membrane fractions. Cells that had been rendered resistant to antibody-complement-mediated killing following incubation for 1 hour with either of the hormones were enhanced in their incorporation of newly synthesized L-alpha-phosphatidyl serine, L-alpha-phosphatidyl choline, and triglycerides into the plasma membrane as well as L-alpha-phosphatidyl choline, L-alpha-phosphatidyl serine, and cholesteryl ester into mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, nuclear membrane, or microsomes; these cells were inhibited in cardiolipin synthesis. Cells cultured for 4 hours with hormone regained their sensitivity to antibody-complement-mediated killing and reverted to control levels in their ability to synthesize and incorporate lipids into plasma and intracellular membranes. These data suggest that agents that increase the resistance of the tumor cells to humoral immune killing stimulate the synthesis and incorporation of specific complex lipids into plasma membrane and intracellular organelles; these effects are generally opposite those observed after treatment with agents that increase the sensitivity of the cells to antibody-complement-mediated killing (metabolic inhibitors).

Animals↗

PubMed1982

Humoral immunity in leprosy: immunoglobulin G and M antibody responses to Mycobacterium leprae in relation to various disease patterns.

A solid-phase radioimmunoassay, applying whole Mycobacterium leprae as antigen and radiolabeled protein A from Staphylococcus aureus as antibody-detecting reagent, was used for the determination of specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibody responses in leprosy patients. High IgG anti-M. leprae antibody levels were found in lepromatous leprosy patients, whereas the antibody response in tuberculoid leprosy patients varied from negative, i.e., comparable with responses measured in normal individuals, to strongly positive. In tuberculoid leprosy patients, a significant increase in IgG anti-M. leprae antibody levels was observed in the more widespread forms of the disease, but positive antibody responses were especially predominant among patients with active lesions. Lepromatous leprosy patients generally demonstrated high levels of both IgG and IgM anti-M. leprae antibodies, but no relation was found between the antibody responses and bacillary load or other clinical parameters. A marked decrease in specific IgG and IgM antibody levels was observed in lepromatous leprosy patients during their first year of treatment. Differences in mechanisms regulating the humoral immune response in tuberculoid and lepromatous leprosy patients were indicated, and the application of antibody assessments in leprosy control programs is discussed.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

PubMed1976

Humoral immunity to herpes simplex viral-induced antigens in smokers.

Antibodies to herpes simplex viral-induced antigens (HSVIA) were assayed by an indirect immunofluorescent technique in 93 regular cigarette smokers, 75 of whom also imbibed alcoholic beverages. Controls were 94 nonsmoking, nondrinking volunteers matched with the smoker for age and sex. IgA antibodies to HSVIA were detected six times more frequently in the sera of smokers than in nonsmoking controls, p less than .0005. IgG and IgM anti-HSVIA were detected with comparable frequencies in both groups, but the antibody titers were significantly higher in the smoking group than in controls, p less than .05. IgA anti-HSVIA was detected more frequently in smokers with 10 or more pack-years of cigarette exposure than in smokers with 10 or more pack-years of smoking (p less than .05) or in matched nonsmokers (p less than .02). IgA antibody titers to HSVIA were significantly higher in cigarette smokers who drank alcoholic beverages than in smokers who did not drink, p less than .025. This study demonstrates that cigarette smoking and the use of alcoholic beverages are associated with heightened humoral immunity to HSV-induced antigens in a population at high risk for development of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck region.

Age Factors↗