Immunoblot analysis of sera from patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis: Correlation with disease activity

Jonathan A. Bernstein, C. Raymond Zeiss*, Paul A. Greenberger, Roy Patterson, John F. Marhoul, Linda L. Smith

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Immunoblot analysis was used to evaluate the IgG, IgE, and IgA responses to Aspergillus fumigatus antigen with the sera of five patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) before, during, and after suspected exacerbation of their disease. The results revealed a heterogenous antibody response, unique for each patient, to specific Aspergillus fumigatus antigens that correlated with the molecular weights of previously well-characterized antigens of importance in the immunopathogenesis of ABPA. A rating scale was devised for measuring band intensity that allowed the patient's antibody responses to be reproducibly semiquantitated. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated qualitative and semiquantitative information that is not available with other in vitro assays used in the study of patients with ABPA, such as ELISA. These initial results emphasize the need for additional evaluation of this technique to assess its potential clinical application in this disease.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)532-539
Number of pages8
JournalThe Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
Volume86
Issue number4 PART 1
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1990

Funding

ABPA is a complication found in patients with asthma colonized with the ubiquitous fungus, Af. The diagnosis of ABPA is made when patients manifest several clinical and laboratory criteria that have been well described. 1 Once the diagnosis of ABPA is recognized, patients rarely progress to end stage lung disease if appropriate oral corticosteroid therapy is administered to control or prevent exacerbations.1 The need for early diagnosis has provided the impetus to find more sensitive in vitro techniques, such as radioimmunoassays and ELISAs, capable of detecting antibodies to Af antigen. 2 7 Patients with ABPA are currently monitored by measuring their total serum IgE level at intervals, dependent on their clinical status. A twofold increase of this level is believed to represent the prodrome of an exacerbation. ~ Other investigators have found that rises in serum IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies to Af From the Sectiono f Allergy-Immunology,D epartment of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, and Veterans Admin-istration Lakeside Medical Center, Chicago, I11. Supported by United States Public Health Service Grant AI 11403, the Ernest S. Bazley Trust, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (Medical Research Service). Received for publication March t3, 1990. Revised June 1, 1990. Accepted for publication June 8, 1990. Reprint requests: C. RaymondZ eiss, MD, VA Lakeside Medical Center (151), 400 E. Ontario, Chicago, IL 60611. 1/1/23091

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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