Comparison of IgE antibody concentrations to pyromellitic dianhydride-modified laminin and human serum albumin in sera of exposed workers with respiratory complaints.
BACKGROUND
Acid anhydrides are used in a variety of industrial branches because of their highly reactive anhydride groups. Adverse effects of anhydride exposure include toxic/irritative effects as well as IgE- and IgG-mediated respiratory disorders. It was the aim of this study to examine the usefulness of conjugates of pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and laminin, a respiratory tract protein, for the in vitro diagnosis of sensitization to PMDA.


METHODS
Sera of PMDA-exposed workers (n = 9) and nonexposed controls (n = 8) were tested with an enzyme allergosorbent test (EAST). Human laminin and human serum albumin (HSA) were derivatized with PMDA and used as solid-phase in a commercial assay.


RESULTS
Seven out of 9 exposed workers revealed elevated IgE antibody concentrations (>0.35 kU/l) against laminin-PMDA whereas 5 of 9 subjects had elevated IgE antibody concentrations to HSA-PMDA. All 9 workers had elevated IgE antibody concentrations in at least one of the two tests. Of the 4 workers who complained of shortness of breath, 3 were positive for laminin-PMDA and 2 for HSA-PMDA. All of the nonexposed subjects were negative (<0.35 kU/l) for laminin-PMDA.


CONCLUSIONS
PMDA-modified laminin could provide an additional diagnostic tool for the detection of sensitization to PMDA.
Czuppon
A B
AB
Research Institute for Occupational Medicine of the Berufsgenossenschaften (BGFA), Institute at the Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany.
Merget
R
R
Raulf-Heimsoth
M
M
Bruening
T
T
D001565:Benzoates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D002617:Chemical Industry; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007163:Immunosorbent Techniques; D007797:Laminin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*
D001565:Benzoates; D007797:Laminin; D012709:Serum Albumin; C012019:pyromellitic dianhydride; D007073:Immunoglobulin E