Quantification of Aspergillus fumigatus antigen Asp f 1 in airway tissue
and allergic inflammation.
Abstract
Background: In allergic inflammation, the cells existing in the
mucosa take up antigens and present them to produce specific IgE, but
there is no clinical study that quantifies antigens that cause allergies
in local tissues. Fungi can induce the formation of nasal polyps via
epithelial damage and type-2 inflammation. Aspergillus fumigatus
is the most common environmental allergen; however, the involvement of
its specific antigens in local allergic reactions in nasal polyps has
not yet been reported. Objective: To investigate local allergic
reactions to the Aspergillus fumigatus antigen, Asp f 1 in
patients with CRSwNP. Materials and Methods: Nasal polyp
tissues were collected from 103 patients with CRSwNP during surgery and
homogenized. Tissue eosinophil counts and Asp f1,
Aspergillus-specific IgE, type 2 cytokines and galectin-10 levels
were measured in nasal polyps. Results: Eighteen cases (15.9%)
of 103 patients were positive for Asp f 1 and were divided into two
groups based on Asp f 1 levels. Asp f 1 levels positively correlated
with Aspergillus-specific IgE levels (r =0.68, p
<0.01). Aspergillus-specific IgE (p <0.01) levels in
nasal polyps were significantly higher in the high Asp f 1 group than in
the low Asp f 1 group although no significant differences were observed
in IgM levels between these groups. Furthermore, Asp f 1 levels
positively correlated with tissue IL-4 levels (r =0.85, p
<0.0005) or tissue galectin-10 levels (r =0.54,
p<0.01). Conclusion: This is the first study to
quantify the levels of Aspergillus fumigatus antigen in the nasal polyps
of patients with CRSwNP. The presence of Asp f 1 might explain the local
type 2 allergic reaction to Aspergillus fumigatus in CRSwNP.