Studies on the antigenic composition of aqueous cotton dust extracts.
An immune response to cotton dust components has been proposed as a possible mechanism of byssinosis. To evaluate this possibility, specific precipitating antibodies against aqueous cotton dust extracts (ACDE) were raised in rabbits, and a reference pattern for crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) was established using this extract. A significant portion of the immune response was directed against Alternaria tenuis, Aspergillus niger, and Fusarium solani, all documented contaminants of cotton dust. Preliminary crossed radio-immunoelectrophoretic studies demonstrated that some of these antigens are allergenic in man, suggesting that an IgE-mediated hypersensitivity against cotton dust, or a fungal component of the dust, may be important in byssinosis pathogenesis.
D000528:Alternaria / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000276:immunology; D002095:Byssinosis / Q000276:immunology*; D003378:Counterimmunoelectrophoresis; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects; D005670:Fusarium / Q000276:immunology; D003368:Gossypium / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D011817:Rabbits / Q000276:immunology
D000941:Antigens; D004391:Dust; D007106:Immune Sera; D007073:Immunoglobulin E