Original articleAllergenic structures in cockroach hypersensitivity
Abstract
The tissues from which cockroach allergens were derived were identified by use of serum IgE of five patients with allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma as a result of hypersensitivity to German cockroach. RAST and skin test results demonstrated four of five patients to be positive to cockroach only, and one patient was tested positive to house dust mite as well. Allergen-specific IgE binding to German cockroach was investigated by cryostat sections by means of immunofluorescent test. In all patients with cockroach hypersensitivity, we found IgE bound to the gastrointestinal epithelium and contents of the intestinal tract. In four cases, IgE was also bound to the Malpighian vessels (equivalent in function to kidneys). In three cases, IgE was also bound to the ovarian cells. All cases revealed cytoplasmic staining.
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Cited by (25)
Medidas de evitación alergénica en el asma
1999, Archivos de BronconeumologiaMeasurement and characterization of cockroach allergens detected during normal domestic activity
1999, Journal of Allergy and Clinical ImmunologyBackground: Cockroach allergen is recognized as a causal factor for asthma. However, airborne cockroach allergen has not been detected in undisturbed conditions, and therefore the behavior and properties of airborne cockroach allergen have been poorly characterized. A new aeroallergen sampling method and sensitive system of immunoassay have been used to examine cockroach allergen exposure. Objective: Our purpose was to measure and characterize airborne cockroach allergens during normal domestic exposure in the homes of Sydney, Australia. Methods: Air sampling with Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh (IOM) samplers was performed in the living rooms of 10 houses during low- and no-disturbance environments. In addition, inhaled particles were collected by each home occupant during low domestic exposure with use of intra-nasal samplers that impact particles onto an adhesive surface. The particles collected on the IOMs and the intra-nasal samplers were immunostained with Bla g 1 monoclonal antibodies. Particle size, morphologic characteristics, and the relative Bla g 1 content of particles were estimated. Reservoir dust samples from the kitchen, living room, and bedroom were assayed by an ELISA. Two forms of repeatability of IOM air sampling were examined. The first measure tested the repeatability of 2 IOM samples collected simultaneously in the same room during low- and no-disturbance activities. The second measure examined the repeatability of IOM sampling over time on 10 consecutive days. Results: Bla g 1 was detected in reservoir dust samples taken from all homes (geometric mean 1.5 U/g, range 0.2-9.4 U/g). Inhaled particles containing Bla g 1 were detected during 1 hour of intra-nasal sampling in 8 of 10 homes during low disturbance. Cockroach particles were detected on all of the IOM samples collected for both 4-hour low-disturbance and overnight no-disturbance sampling environments. Particles containing Bla g 1 collected with the IOM samplers during low disturbance ranged in size from 3 to 350 μm. These particles are amorphous and irregular in shape, and a majority of the large particles were described as flakes (flat, transparent particles) and fibers (threadlike). A relationship was demonstrated between the allergen content of cockroach particles and their particle size. The larger particles elute more Bla g 1. The coefficient of repeatability for measurements made during low and no disturbance was 3.62 and 2.09, respectively. For measurements repeated over time at the same site, the coefficient of repeatability was 2.61. This represents the fold range within which 95% of pairs of measurements made at an interval of 1 day would be expected to lie. Conclusions: Airborne cockroach allergen is present in both undisturbed and low-disturbance environments in homes with relatively low reservoir levels of Bla g 1. In agreement with previous reports, airborne particles containing cockroach allergen (Bla g 1) are mainly associated with particles >10 μm. These particles are amorphous and irregular in shape and can be described as flakes and fibers. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;104:672-80.)
Novel allergen structures with tandem amino acid repeats derived from German and American cockroach
1998, Journal of Biological ChemistryCockroaches produce potent allergens that are an important cause of asthma. The two principal domiciliary cockroach species, Blattella germanica and Periplaneta americana, secrete major allergens, Bla g 1 and Per a 1. Here, we report the molecular cloning of three Bla g 1 cDNA clones, which showed 70% amino acid sequence identity with Per a 1. Plaque immunoassays with human IgE antibodies or murine monoclonal antibodies showed that these allergens were antigenically cross-reactive. The Bla g 1 sequences also showed homology to five previously undefined cockroach allergen sequences. An unusual feature of all these sequences was that they contained multiple tandem amino acid repeats of ∼100 amino acid residues. Between one and seven repeat units were identified by dot-plot matrix analysis. The sequences also showed homology to a mosquito protein involved in digestion (ANG12 precursor) and to mitochondrial energy transfer proteins. High levels of Bla g 1 were found in cockroach hindgut and proventriculus. Amino acid sequencing of natural Bla g 1 and Per a 1 suggested that these allergens are cleaved by trypsin-like enzymes following secretion into the digestive tract. The repeat sequences appear to have evolved by duplication of an ancestral amino acid domain, which may have arisen from the mitochondrial energy transfer proteins.
Dust and airborne exposure to allergens derived from cockroach (Blattella germanica) in low-cost public housing in Strasbourg (France)
1997, Journal of Allergy and Clinical ImmunologyBackground: Although a strong association between allergy to cockroach (CR) and asthma has been observed in the United States and Asia, there are little data about the extent of exposure to CR allergen in Europe. Objective: To determine the levels of CR allergens in dust samples from apartments in Strasbourg and to determine the concentration and size of CR allergens in the air. Methods: Nine apartments in a public housing complex were chosen on the basis of visual evidence of CR infestation. Levels of CR allergens (Bla g 1 and Bla g 2) in kitchen and mattress dust samples were measured by immunoassay with the use of monoclonal antibodies. Air was sampled for 3 to 8 hours in the kitchen under undisturbed conditions, during artificial disturbance, and during normal domestic activity by using an impinger and a parallel glass fiber filter and at flow rates of 2 to 20 L/min. Airborne CR and mite allergens were measured concurrently in the bedroom of one apartment before, during, and after artificial disturbance. Results: High levels of Bla g 1 and Bla g 2 were found in kitchen dust from the nine apartments (geometric means of 3919 U/gm [range 530 to 14306 U/gm] and 497 U/gm [range 73 to 1946 U/gm], respectively). Under undisturbed conditions, airborne CR allergens were not detectable in any of the apartments. During vigorous artificial disturbance, Bla g 1 and Bla g 2 were detectable in air samples from seven apartments (geometric means of 4.5 U/m3 [range 0.7 to 17.2 U/m3] and 1.0 U/m3 [range 0.4 to 3.4 U/m3], respectively). Both allergens were predominantly collected on the first stage of the impinger, and 76% to 80% of the airborne allergen was associated with particles greater than 10 μm in diameter. The levels were significantly higher than those collected on the second or third stages of the impinger (p < 0.001). A comparison of the levels of mite and CR allergens showed that the airborne properties of these allergens were similar, that is, measurable only during disturbance and not detectable 30 minutes after disturbance. Conclusion: Levels of CR allergen in low-cost public housing in Strasbourg can be as high as or higher than the levels measured in towns in the United States. CR allergens become airborne during disturbance and are primarily associated with particles greater than 10 μm in diameter. Patients with asthma living in urban areas of Europe in housing prone to CR infestation should be evaluated for sensitization and exposure to CR allergens. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1997;99:107-12.)
Allergie respiratoire : Nouveautés sur les allergènes de l'environnement domestique
1996, Revue Francaise des LaboratoiresL'environnement domestique représente la première source d'allergènes à laquelle tout sujet est exposé dès les premières années de sa vie. La précocité et l'importance de cette exposition allergénique conditionnent, chez les sujets prédisposés, l'apparition ultérieure de manifestations respiratoires allergiques.
Le principal réservoir des allergènes du domicile est la poussière de maison. La composition allergénique de celle-ci est étroitement dépendante du mode de vie. En France, les acariens phanérophages représentent les allergènes dominants de la poussière de maison. Ces microorganismes prolifèrent particulièrement au niveau de la chambre à coucher et de la literie où ils trouvent les conditions idéales (nourriture, température, hygrométrie) à leur développement.
Les allergènes des acariens sont portés par des molécules de grande taille, ils sont donc peu aéroportés. Le déclenchement des symptômes chez les sujets sensibilisés est lié à un contact prolongé ou massif. Les animaux participent également à l'allergénicité de la poussière de maison.
Les allergènes du chat et du chien sont particulièrement bien étudiés mais d'autres animaux du domicile comme les petits rongeurs (hamster, cobaye, lapin) sont aussi très allergisants. Les allergènes d'origine animale peuvent être aéroportés très à distance de l'animal, ce qui explique la possibilité d'apparition de signes cliniques, chez les patients allergiques, sans contact direct avec l'animal sensibilisant. Enfin, les blattes représentent un constituant antigénique de la poussière de maison dont l'importance en allergologie respiratoire paraît croissante comme le montre l'augmentation régulière du nombre de patients sensibilisés à ces allergènes.
La connaissance des allergènes domestiques et la mise au point de techniques de mesure au domicile permettent d'envisager, dans l'avenir, une véritable stratégie préventive de l'allergie respiratoire.
Exposure to allergens of the domestic environment begin very early in the life. In patients with genetic predisposition, there is clear evidence of an association between the level of exposure to these allergens and the risk of developping allergic respiratory symptoms.
The main reservoir of domestic allergens is house dust. But its allergenic composition depends on living conditions. In France, house dust mites play a major role in house dust antigenicity. Mites are particularly present in the bedroom where they find ideal conditions to proliferate (food, temperature, humidity).
Mite allergens are supported by large molecules wich are not easily airborne. The triggering of symptoms in sensitized patients is due to sustained or high exposure. Pet allergens are also involved in house dust allergenicity.
Cat and dog allegens are well studied, but other small animals like small rodents (hamster, guinea pig or rabbit) may produce high level of allegens. Animal allergens become easily airborne and can trigger clinical signs in allergic patients even without direct animal contact. Cockroach antigens may also be present in house dust. In epidemiological studies, the percentage of patients with positive skin test to these allergens increase regularly.
A better knowledge of domestic allergens and the development of techniques to measure them at home are necessary to elaborate efficient strategy to prevent respiratory allergy.
Respiratory allergy to cockroaches in Casablanca
1996, Revue Francaise d'Allergologie et d'Immunologie CliniqueLa présence de débris de blattes dans la poussière des maisons est connue depuis longtemps et l'existence d'une allergie aux blattes a été démontrée dans divers pays. Afin de préciser la place de la sensibilisation aux blattes sous nos climats, une étude prospective a été menée sur une période de 9 mois, s'étendant de mai 1993 à janvier 1994. Elle concerne 205 patients, âgés de 29 ans en moyenne, sans prédominance de sexe. Tous ces patients ont bénéficié d'un interrogatoire minutieux, d'un examen clinique complet et d'un téléthorax. Des tests cutanés pour les principaux pneumallergènes ont été pratiqués, avec un témoin positif (histamine) et un témoin négatif (glycérosalin). L'extrait de blattes provient de corps entiers de blattes germaniques dilués en poids/volume au 1/10. La sensibilisation cutanée aux blattes est retrouvée chez 43 patients (21 %). Chez 6 patients, seul le test cutané à la blatte est positif (14 %). Chez les 37 autres patients, les sensibilisations cutanées les plus souvent associées sont : Dermatophagoïdes ptéronyssinus (83,6 %), Dermatophagoïdes Farinae (83,8 %), les 3 graminées (48,6 %), et les moisissures (24,3 %). La sensibilisation cutanée aux blattes vient en seconde position après les acariens (46,3 %). Chez les patients allergiques à la blatte, l'asthme souvent sévère, est presque constant ; il est associé à une rhinite + conjonctivite dans 22 cas (51,2 %) ; à une conjonctivite + eczéma dans un cas (2,3 %), à une rhinite dans 5 cas (11,6 %) et à une conjonctivite dans 3 cas (7 %). Les IgE spécifiques aux blattes n'ont été réalisées que chez 10 malades et ont été positives dans 2 cas. Ces résultats confirment la haute prévalence de la sensibilisation à la blatte et soulignent la fréquence de l'association à une sensibilisation aux acariens.
The presence of cockroach debris in house dust has been known for a long time and the existence of allergy to cockroaches has been demonstrated in various countries. A prospective study was conducted over a 9-month period, from May 1993 to January 1994, in order to determine the place of sensitization to cockroaches in our climate. It concerns 205 patients, with a mean age of 29 years, with no sex predominance. All patients underwent a meticulous clinical interview, a complete clinical examination and a chest x-ray. Skin tests for the main respiratory allergens were performed, with a positive control (histamine) and a negative control (glycerosaline). The cockroach extract was obtained from whole German cockroach bodies diluted to 1/10 (w/v). Cutaneous sensitization to cockroaches was detected in 43 patients (21 %). In 6 patients, only the skin test to cockroach was positive (14 %). In another 37 patients, the most frequently associated cutaneous sensitizations were: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (83.8 %), Dermatophagoides farinae (83.8 %), the 3 Graminaceae (48.6 %) and moulds (24.3 %). Cutaneous sensitization to cockroaches was the second most frequent sensitization after house dust mites (46.3 %). Asthma, often severe, was almost constant in patients allergic to cockroaches; it was associated with rhinitis + conjunctivitis in 22 cases (51.2 %), conjonctivitis + eczema in one case (2.3 %), rhinitis in 5 cases (11.6 %) and conjunctivitis in 3 cases (7 %). Specific IgE directed against cockroaches were assayed in only 10 patients and were positive in 2 cases. These results confirm the high prevalence of sensitization to cockroaches and emphasize the frequency of combined sensitization to house dust mites.
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From the Medical Department, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.