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IGE IN ASTHMATIC HUMAN SERA IS REACTIVE AGAINST MOLD EXTRACTS
Citation:
CHUNG, Y., M. D. WARD, E. R. SVENDSEN, K. YEATTS, DAVE B. PEDEN, L. M. NEAS, AND R. B. DEVLIN. IGE IN ASTHMATIC HUMAN SERA IS REACTIVE AGAINST MOLD EXTRACTS . Presented at Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA, March 16 - 20, 2008.
Impact/Purpose:
This study was undertaken to 1) provide insight into the prevalence of human IgE-reactivity to mold proteins, 2) identify the target mold protein(s) and 3) compare human IgE target proteins with mouse IgE-reactive protein profiles.
Description:
Molds have been associated with various health effects including asthma, but their role in induction of asthma is unclear. However, the presence of mold-specific IgE indicates their capacity to induce allergic responses and possibly exacerbate asthma symptoms. This study was undertaken to 1) provide insight into the prevalence of human IgE-reactivity to mold proteins, 2) identify the target mold protein(s) and 3) compare human IgE target proteins with mouse IgE-reactive protein profiles. Human sera were collected from thirty-three individuals (11 adults and 22 children) with persistent asthma, living near Chapel Hill, NC. The sera were screened for IgE-reactivity against selected indoor mold extracts by chemiluminescent dot blot analysis. Tested protein extracts include Penicillium chrysogenum, Metarhizium anisopliae, Stachybotrys chartarum, Cladosporium cladosporiodes, mold mix 1 and 2 (Greer lab, Lenoir, NC), and house dust mite. The resulting chemiluminescent signal was quantified by densitometry. Strongly reactive sera were chosen to identify the IgE-binding proteins by Western blot analysis. These protein profiles were compared to those identified with extract-specific mouse serum IgE. The dot blot screening demonstrated variability among individuals and within an individual’s level of IgE-responsiveness to the various mold extracts. IgE-reactive protein profiles from human sera were similar to those detected using mouse serum. In summary, most asthmatics in this study had IgE-reactivity against at least one mold. Additionally, both the mouse and human immune systems are generally reactive to the same mold proteins. (This abstract does not reflect EPA policy.)