ELISA analysis of IgA subclass antibodies to dietary antigens. Elevated IgA1 antibodies in children with coeliac disease.

Enzyme immunoassays for the quantitation of IgA1 and IgA2 antibodies to dietary antigens were developed. Serum IgA1 antibodies to bovine serum albumin (BSA) were detectable in 2/30 healthy adults, in 3/26 healthy children, and at high levels in 8/11 children with coeliac disease, without relation to gluten exposure. IgA1 antibodies to ovalbumin (OA) and beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) at high titers were seen in one coeliac child but were otherwise low or absent. IgA2 antibodies to BSA were detectable in 28/48 healthy subjects and in 8/11 coeliac children. IgA2 antibodies to OA and BLG were measurable in a few samples from each group. IgA1 antibodies to the gluten component glycgli were found at low levels in 15/56 normal sera, and anti-glycgli antibodies of the IgA2 subclass in 14/48 sera from healthy persons, also at low levels. IgA1 anti-glycgli antibodies were measurable in 5/11 sera from CD patients on a gluten-free diet. Elevated levels of IgA1 anti-glycgli antibodies were detected in all sera from CD patients challenged with gluten, except in 1 patient with a markedly reduced serum IgA level. In contrast, the IgA2 anti-glycgli antibody levels were unaffected. Thus, increased levels of IgA antibodies to dietary protein antigens in childhood coeliac disease were observed only within the IgA1 isotype.