title: Immunochemical properties of the antigens involved in the pigeon breeder's disease.
abstract: The pigeon breeder's disease is a form of extrinsic allergic alveolitis caused by the exposure to pigeon droppings. Chemical analysis of this antigen was carried out employing column fractionation techniques. Sephadex G-50 and DEAE cellulose were performed and several proteins and hexoses peaks were recorded. Molecular weights were determined by comparison with standardized marker proteins passed through a drop counting fraction collector. The whole extract revealed a molecular weight of 100 Kd while fraction 1 showed 66 Kd and fraction 2 only 30 Kd. A guinea pig experimental model was developed with the whole extract injected by the intradermal route, administered by an intragastric catheter or aerosolized in a glass chamber. Histopathological studies were carried out with the lungs, kidneys, liver and spleen obtained by the necropsy of the animals. The lungs and the kidneys showed the paramount changes in their structures with lymphomononuclear infiltrates and an Arthus-like phenomenon surrounding the vessels. Immunological techniques were applied to the sera and the lymphocytes obtained from the animals. Precipitin and hemagglutinating IgG antibodies were detected against the whole extract and the fractions obtained by column fractionation. Sensitized lymphocytes were also detected. This experimental model represents a guide in the approach to the human allergic alveolitis whose immunological findings will be presented in a forth-coming report.
authors.affiliation: División Immunidad y Alergia, Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Pionetti
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Scavini
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mouchián
mesh_terms: D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001716:Bird Fancier's Lung / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002848:Chromatography, DEAE-Cellulose; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D010856:Columbidae / Q000276:immunology*; D005243:Feces / Q000276:immunology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008970:Molecular Weight
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens