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Biomedical subjects

M van Hage-Hamsten

Publications and source records attributed to M van Hage-Hamsten.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

IgE-mediated allergy to wood dusts probably does not explain the high prevalence of respiratory symptoms among Swedish woodwork teachers.

A previous study revealed an increased occurrence of work-related respiratory complaints among Swedish woodwork teachers. For determination of whether an IgE-mediated mechanism was the cause of the symptoms, 127 woodwork teachers and 111 reference subjects (other school personnel) in Stockholm gave serum for analysis of total IgE, Phadiatop, and RAST to extract of sawdust from five commonly used Scandinavian woods (pine, birch, juniper, alder, and linden). The total serum-IgE level was similar in the woodwork teachers (geometric mean 35, range < 2-1700 kU/l) and the reference group (34, < 2-860 kU/l), and the frequency of positive Phadiatop was equal (29.9% and 31.5%, respectively). RAST was positive only in three cases, two reference subjects (birch and pine) and one woodwork teacher (alder). Hence, no correlation between exposure and sensitization to wood dust was found, and the results do not support the assumption that the complaints related to exposure to dusts from the examined Scandinavian woods are IgE mediated.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Is allergy screening of blood donors necessary? A comparison between questionnaire answers and the presence of circulating IgE antibodies.

We investigated 477 consecutive blood donors on order to find the predictive value of a questionnaire as a screening method for preventing passive transfer of IgE antibodies to common allergens that might cause transfusion reactions. Of the 477 donors, 119 (24.9%) claimed to be allergic and 358 (75.1%) recorded no allergic complaints. Serological examination with Phadiatop and a multi-allergen mix for food (fx5) detected IgE antibodies in only 54.5% of the allegedly allergic blood donors. Among the allegedly asymptomatic donors, 12.3% showed positive results in these tests. Subsequently, radioallergosorbent test analyses with common inhalant and food allergens were performed to specify the IgE responses obtained. Our results demonstrate a remarkable difference between the questionnaire answers and the serological measurements of IgE antibodies and raise the question of whether - and if so, what kind of - allergy screening is warranted among presumptive blood donors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Sarcoidosis patients have bronchial hyperreactivity and signs of mast cell activation in their bronchoalveolar lavage.

An increased (p < 0.001) frequency of bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) was found in sarcoidosis patients as compared with healthy volunteers. The patients had more mast cells (p < 0.001) and tryptase (p < 0.001) in their bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, but there were no differences between BHR-positive and BHR-negative patients. Furthermore, the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid concentrations of macrophages, lymphocytes, and of the soluble components albumin, fibronectin, and vitronectin were also elevated in the sarcoidosis patients, indicating an ongoing inflammation in the airways and/or in the interstitium. We observed no significant differences in the parameters when the sarcoidosis patients were subdivided into BHR, clinical activity, or chest X-ray stages. Our findings may indicate a multifactorial background to the hyperreactivity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Dust mite allergy: an important cause of respiratory disease in farmers.

In 2,578 Swedish farmers, 6.2% were found to have an allergy to storage mites. The storage mite Lepidoglyphus destructor has been identified by both RAST and bronchial challenges as a significant cause of occupational asthma in rural environments. Immunohistochemical studies of L. destructor disclosed that at least one L. destructor allergen is associated with digestion.

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗
PubMed1994

Detection of at least one high-molecular-mass, IgE-binding component of the dust mite Lepidoglyphus destructor.

We studied the allergen composition in an extract of the storage mite Lepidoglyphus destructor. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were raised against L. destructor by a standard hybridoma technique. In the subsequent screening, we concentrated on mAbs fulfilling three criteria. First, in ELISA, mAbs were assessed against a panel of various mite species, and only those reacting exclusively with L. destructor extract were selected for further analyses. Secondly, mAbs were selected in immunoblotting according to whether or not a novel pattern of reactivity emerged in comparison with earlier results. Thirdly, by radioimmunoassay (RIA), we selected mAbs that recognized components which were also recognized by human IgE from sera RAST positive to L. destructor. This yielded an L. destructor-specific mAb (117F9) reacting with two previously unknown components of approximately 79 and 93 kDa, respectively. We also analyzed 80 sera for the presence of IgE binding to these components. These sera were divided into three groups according to their RAST specificity. Eighteen of the 30 sera (60%) that were RAST positive to L. destructor were also positive in RIA. Correlation was moderate between kU/l for L. destructor and the counts per minute values for the two components in RIA. The group of control sera lacking IgE antibodies against L. destructor displayed no positive results in RIA. However, 4/20 sera RAST positive to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus but negative to L. destructor were scored as positive in RIA. We conclude that at least one of the high-mol.-mass components of L. destructor causes IgE-mediated sensitization.

Allergens↗
PubMed1994

Glove-related skin symptoms among operating theatre and dental care unit personnel (II). Clinical examination, tests and laboratory findings indicating latex allergy.

Following interviews on glove-related skin symptoms, 202 subjects, 56 hospital workers at an operating theatre and 146 workers at dental care centres, were skin prick tested with different latex extracts. Also, in 193 cases, blood samples were RAST-analysed, using the CAP system. Sensitization to latex diagnosed by positive skin prick test and/or by demonstration of specific antibodies in serum analyses was found in 3.5% of the subjects investigated. 4 cases (2%) showed 1 or more positive skin tests, and 4 cases (2%) had positive RAST to latex antigens. Further work on the diagnostic tools is still needed, as are prognostic studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Occurrence of IgE antibodies against the 39-kDa allergen component of the mite Lepidoglyphus destructor in urban and rural subjects.

Several species of storage mite have been shown to cause IgE-mediated sensitization. Monoclonal antibodies (mabs) have been raised against the storage mite Lepidoglyphus destructor, and one mab (42B6) immunoprecipitated a band of 39 kDa of L. destructor. To search for the frequency of IgE antibodies in patient sera against this allergen component, we modified a radioimmunoassay (RIA), 42B6 being used as capturing antibody. Twenty of 43 sera from farmers who were RAST positive to L. destructor (46.5%) were scored as positive in this assay. There was a moderate degree of correlation between positive RAST results to L. destructor and the 39-kDa allergen. Among 14 sera from Stockholm residents positive in RAST to both Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and L. destructor, six detected the 39-kDa allergen component. However, three sera from urban subjects lacking IgE antibodies against both mite species also had IgE antibodies against the 39-kDa allergen. The present study demonstrates that the 39-kDa allergen of L. destructor is an important allergen, and that rural as well as urban subjects can become sensitized.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

In vitro diagnosis of farmers' IgE-mediated allergy by Phadiatop and three new multiallergen RAST analyses.

Identification of persons with atopic allergy in a population is difficult if the pattern of sensitizing allergens is unique. Three new multiallergen tests, Professional Allergy Mixes (PAX) 1-3 (Pharmacia Diagnostics, Uppsala, Sweden), have recently been introduced to screen IgE-mediated allergy among farmers. PAX 1 contains animal danders and feathers, PAX 2 mites and insects, and PAX 3 pollens and molds. The value of these new tests for the determination of IgE-mediated allergy among farmers was compared with that of Phadiatop, a test for general atopy. Of 440 farmers, 91 were positive to Phadiatop and 97 to any of PAX 1-3. None of the farmers were positive in all tests. Only 70/97 sera positive in RAST to PAX 1-3 had a positive Phadiatop, whereas of 91 sera positive in Phadiatop, 70 had specific IgE antibodies to PAX 1-3. The value of using either Phadiatop or PAX 1-3 is limited (sensitivity 74-79%), but, together, these four tests will detect almost all (95.9%) farmers with IgE-mediated sensitization and all (100%) with symptoms. We have also shown that the grain weevil Sitophilus granarius and the botfly Gasterophilus intestinalis are important sources of allergens in rural environments.

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗
PubMed1993

Bronchial reactivity, atopy, and airway response to cotton dust.

Studies of cotton textile workers have found an association between atopy and drop in FEV1 over a workshift. We studied the response of previously nonexposed volunteers with and without a history of mild atopy to a 5-h exposure to 1 mg/m3 of respirable cotton dust in a model cardroom. All participants were nonsmokers, had no history of asthma, and had normal spirometry. Twenty atopic subjects gave a personal history of mild respiratory allergy to pollen, dusts, or animals that had been confirmed by a physician. Thirty-two nonatopic subjects had no history of allergy. Spirometry and a methacholine challenge test were performed 1 to 2 days prior to exposure. Spirometry was repeated immediately before exposure to cotton dust; spirometry and a methacholine challenge were performed immediately after exposure. Atopic subjects showed a significantly higher mean serum IgE level to Phadiatop, a screening test to common inhalant allergens, than did nonatopic subjects (mean percent binding, 32.1 versus 1.5; p < 0.001). Atopic subjects had a significantly greater mean fall in FEV1 during exposure (8.3% versus 4.9%, p < 0.05). The difference in FEV1 decline between atopic and nonatopic subjects was similar in magnitude to that reported for workshift FEV1 declines between textile workers with and without mild atopy. Atopic subjects had significantly higher baseline methacholine responsiveness than did nonatopic subjects (26% versus 0% reaching a PD20, p < 0.0005). After cotton dust exposure, there was a significant increase in airway reactivity in both groups (68% versus 20% reaching a PD20, p < 0.0005). For all subjects combined baseline responsiveness was significantly related to the change in FEV1 after exposure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Elevated levels of tryptase in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis affecting the lungs may cause obstructive and/or restrictive lung function impairment. The bronchial reactivity is related to the release of histamine from the mast cells. Upon activation mast cells also release tryptase. This enzyme may activate latent collagenase and thus possibly contribute to the fibrosis formation observed in sarcoidosis. We analyzed the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from 13 nonsmoking and untreated patients with sarcoidosis and from 30 healthy volunteers (18 smokers) with regard to the number of mast cells and the tryptase concentration. Concomitantly albumin, fibronectin and hyaluronan were measured as markers of the inflammatory reaction in the alveoli and interstitium. The number of mast cells was higher (p < 0.001) in patients with sarcoidosis than in controls. Also, the concentration of tryptase was significantly higher in patients (225.3 +/- 83.9 [SEM] mU/L) compared to nonsmoking and smoking controls (34.7 +/- 7.8 and 44.7 +/- 13.0 mU/L, respectively; p < 0.01 for both). In addition, the concentrations of albumin, fibronectin and hyaluronan were higher in patients with sarcoidosis compared to the nonsmoking controls (p < 0.001 for all). However, there was no relationship between either the mast cell number or the tryptase concentration and the lung function parameters (VC, TLC, FEV1, FEV%, DLCO). As our patients did not show any functional signs of bronchial obstruction (FEV1 91.7% +/- 13.3 [SD] and FEV% 99.5% +/- 6.4 of predicted) the lack of correlation is not surprising. The high concentrations observed in the BALF of the noncellular components may just reflect an ongoing inflammatory process that may resolve or, if exaggerated, lead to fibrosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Storage mites.

The interest in allergy to storage mites has increased over the past few years. Storage mites feed on a variety of substances and they can be found in many different products such as grain, flour, hay and straw, but also in house dust samples. The more common genera are Lepidoglyphus, Tyrophagus, Glycyphagus, Acarus and Blomia. Several species of storage mites have been shown to cause IgE-mediated sensitization among rural workers, who to a varying extent develop asthma, rhinitis or conjunctivitis when exposed to barn dust. However, a number of studies have reported on sensitization to storage mites also among urban people, indicating that sensitization is not restricted to individuals with occupational exposure. Regarding the allergenic relationship between storage mites and house dust mites, there appears to be a limited allergenic cross-reactivity between the two species. However, both species also possess their own unique allergens. Further research on identification and characterization of storage mite allergens and their cross-reactivity is required to understand the complexity of epitopes and allergens.

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗
PubMed1992

Monoclonal antibodies to Lepidoglyphus destructor: delineation of crossreactivity between storage mites and house dust mites.

We have developed monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) to the storage mite Lepidoglyphus destructor (Ld). Employing these anti-Ld MoAbs Ld-MoAbs) in ELISA and ELISA inhibition techniques we have analysed the reaction pattern of Ld-MoAbs to both non-pyroglyphid and pyroglyphid mites. The storage mite Glycyphagus domesticus (Gd) exhibited most efficient inhibition, followed by Acarus siro (As), Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Tp), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt) and Euroglyphus maynei (Em). Of the two pyroglyphid species, Dpt showed at least 1000 times less inhibition than Gd. Two of the MoAbs immunoprecipitated a band of 39 kD whereas the third reacted weakly, with a high-molecular band of approximately 110 kD. The Ld extract was also subjected to various reagents and conditions and the antigen was heat stable, it was not affected by low pH, or sensitive to dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) or paraformaldehyde. After exposure of the extract to various reagents, such as protease trypsin and periodate, we conclude that the epitopes recognized by Ld-MoAbs were of carbohydrate rather than of protein nature. It would thus seem that MoAbs recognize the carbohydrate part of a glycoprotein.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Comparison of allergic responses to dust mites in U.K. bakery workers and Swedish farmers.

The IgE RAST response to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and four storage mites (Lepidoglyphus destructor, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, Glycyphaghus domesticus, and Acarus siro) was examined in 251 U.K. bakery workers and compared with that previously found in 440 Swedish farmers. Storage mites are found commonly in stored hay and grain so both these groups potentially encounter them in their work. In neither group of workers was a positive RAST (greater than or equal to 0.35 PRU) to D. pteronyssinus correlated with a positive RAST to a single storage mite. As in the Swedish farmers, significant though not strong correlations were found in the U.K. bakers between positive RAST responses to G. domesticus and L. destructor and to T. putrescentiae and L. destructor (P less than 0.05). Homologous and heterologous RAST inhibition studies showed there was low cross-reactivity between storage mites and D. pteronyssinus. L. destructor showed the least inhibition by the other antigens, suggesting it possessed the fewest common allergens. The most important difference in the IgE responses between the two groups was the much higher response to D. pteronyssinus in the U.K. bakers, which was not found in the Swedish farmers whose highest IgE response was to L. destructor.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1992

Localization of allergens in the domestic mite Lepidoglyphus destructor.

The non-pyroglyphid domestic mite Lepidoglyphus destructor is a major source of allergen causing respiratory symptoms in farming environments. This study is the first to focus on the localization of the allergens in the non-pyroglyphid domestic mite Lepidoglyphus destructor. Cryostat-cut sections of L. destructor mite bodies and faecal pellets were probed with one of three mouse monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) raised against L. destructor or with patient sera, and stained with immunoperoxidase. Eight sera were RAST-positive to L. destructor and L. destructor faecal pellets. These eight RAST-positive patient sera labelled the wall of the L. destructor gut and two of them also the faecal pellets. The MoAbs additionally labelled parts of the exoskeleton and reacted with a majority of the faecal pellets. Cryostat-cut sections of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus mite bodies and faecal pellets were probed with L. destructor MoAbs, which resulted in only slight staining of a few faecal pellets. The results suggest that at least one L. destructor allergen is associated with digestion.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Identification of a new major allergen of 39 kilodaltons of the storage mite Lepidoglyphus destructor.

The allergen composition of a non-denatured extract of the storage mite Lepidoglyphus destructor was studied by a combination of hybridoma technology, sodium dodecylsulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and a sandwich radio-allergosorbent test (four-step RAST). Using hybridoma technology, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were generated against the non denatured extract of the L. destructor. After screening by ELISA, mAb 42B6 was selected for further studies. This mAb specifically recognized an antigen of L. destructor of 39 kDa in SDS-PAGE. By a sandwich RAST, sera from 8 patients with known allergy to L. destructor were compared with control sera from 8 allergic patients. The results showed the presence of specific IgE against the 39-kDa protein in the sera of the test group, but not in the control group. There was also a good correlation observed between these data and the results obtained with the classical RAST. These results indicate that the newly identified antigen of 39 kDa is a major allergen of the storage mite Lepidoglyphus destructor.

Allergens↗