Sensitization to avian and fungal proteins in different work environments
Sánchez Díez, Silvia (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron)
Muñoz, Xavier (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron)
Montalvo Porro, Tomas (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau)
Ojanguren, Iñigo (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron)
Romero Mesones, Christian (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron)
Senar, Joan Carles (Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona)
Peracho-Tobeña, Victor (Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona)
Cruz, María Jesús (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Date:	2023
Abstract:	Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is usually caused by the inhalation of avian and fungal proteins. The present study assesses a cohort of Urban Pest Surveillance and Control Service (UPSCS) workers with high exposure to avian and fungal antigens, in order to identify their degree of sensitization and the potential risk of developing HP. Workers were divided according to their work activity into Nest pruners (Group 1) and Others (Group 2). All individuals underwent a medical interview, pulmonary function tests and the determination of specific IgG antibodies. Antigenic proteins of pigeon sera were analysed using two-dimensional immunoblotting. Proteins of interest were sequenced by liquid-chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). 101 workers were recruited (76 men, average age: 42 yrs); (Group 1 = 41, Group 2 = 60). Up to 30% of the study population exhibited increased levels of IgGs to pigeon, small parrot and parrot, and up to 60% showed high levels of Aspergillus and Penicillium IgGs. In Group 1, specific parakeet and Mucor IgGs were higher (p = 0. 044 and 0. 003 respectively) while DLCO/VA% were lower (p = 0. 008) than in Group 2. Two-dimensional immunoblotting showed protein bands of 20-30 KDa recognized by HP patients but not by workers. LC-MS analysis identified Ig Lambda chain and Apolipoprotein A-I as candidate proteins for distinguishing HP patients from exposed workers. Two pigeon proteins were identified that may play a role in the development of pathological differences between HP patients and exposed workers. DLCO/VA may have a predictive value in the development of HP disease.
Grants:	Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad PI15/01954
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Birds ; Exposed individuals ; Fungi ; Hypersensitivity pneumonitis ; IgG
Published in:	Allergy, asthma, and clinical immunology, Vol. 19 Núm. 1 (december 2023) , p. 96, ISSN 1710-1492

DOI: 10.1186/s13223-023-00852-w
PMID: 37957771

9 p, 1.7 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Institut de Recerca Sant Pau
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles