Studies on pulmonary and systemic Aspergillus fumigatus-specific IgE and IgG antibodies in horses affected with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)

Inhalant exposure to Aspergillus fumigatus (Asp. f.) antigens induces marke d inflammatory and immunological alterations in the lungs of horses affecte d with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this study we inves tigated the role of specific allergen(s) present in Asp. f. on systemic and pulmonary IgE and IgG responses in control and COPD-affected horses, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting techniques . Compared with controls, horses affected with COPD had significantly highe r levels of BALF IgE and IgG to somatic Asp. f. antigens as well as to the allergen 1/a (Asp. f. 1/a). Serum levels of IgE and IgG against these antig ens did not differ between control and COPD-affected horses. Antigen specif ic IgE and IgG levels did not correlate between BALF and serum. Scanning of Asp. f. and IgE and IgG blots revealed bands that are recognised by both I gE- and IgG-specific antibodies. Additionally, all horses responded with BA LF IgE- and IgG-specific for 93, 35, 31 and 23 kDa allergens, suggesting th at these antigens are involved in the induction of airway IgE and IgG respo nses. These allergens may have the potential to be used as biomarkers for t he diagnosis of Asp. f. related exacerbations of equine COPD. (C) 1998 Publ ished by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.