Occupational asthma and IgE sensitization to cellulase in a textile industry worker

Background: Although there have been a few reports of occupational asthma d ue to cellulase in several occupational settings, this is the first case of cellulase-induced occupational asthma in an employee working in the textil e industry. Its pathogenetic mechanism remains to be further clarified. Objective: It is important to alert physicians to the possibility of occupa tional asthma caused by cellulase in workers of the textile industry. Methods and results: The patient had atopy and strong positive responses to cellulase extract on skin prick tests. Bronchoprovocation test showed an e arly asthmatic response to cellulase extract. Serum specific IgE and specif ic IgG(4) antibodies to cellulase were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorb ent assay (ELISA). In order to further characterize the allergenic componen t of the extract, sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresi s (SDS-PAGE) and electroblotting studies were performed. Eight IgE binding components ranging from 6 to 97.5 kD were detected within the cellulase ext ract. Conclusion: These findings suggest that inhalation of cellulase can induce IgE-mediated bronchoconstrictions in employees working in the textile indus try.