title: Anti-Candida albicans IgE and IgG subclasses in sera of patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA).
abstract: We performed immunoblotting experiments to determine specific IgE and IgG subclass responses to Candida albicans antigens in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) patients. This is a first report describing C. albicans antigens recognized by serum IgE and IgG subclasses of ABPA patients sensitized to that yeast. Among the various antigens reacting with serum IgE, a 43-kDa component was recognized by all seven patients and can be considered a major antigen of C. albicans for this particular group of patients. By comparison, only 20% of a group of asthmatic atopics (25 patients) and 10% of a group of normal controls (10 subjects) were 43-kDa positive. Multiple banding patterns, revealing no major antigen, were observed for all four IgG subclasses except for IgG1 in one case. In particular, the 43-kDa component was not always recognized by all the patients. Furthermore, oral or inhaled steroid treatment appears to have no impact on the specific IgE immunopatterns obtained. Using immunoelectron-microscopy, we localized IgE-binding primarily in the mannoprotein-containing layers of the C. albicans cell wall. In conclusion, C. albicans-IgE and IgG subclasses may participate in the physiopathology of ABPA by exacerbating pulmonary infiltrates (IgE) and inducing eosinophil-mediated inflammatory reaction (IgG1, IgG3).
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roig
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Malo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montplaisir
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000097:blood*; D001229:Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E