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RATIONALE: Strong adjuvant activity for Ottawa dust (EHC-93) has been reported after co-exposure of the BALB/C mouse to EHC-93 and ovalbumin. A. alternata is a prominent source of fungal aeroallergens. Hence, the adjuvant activity of EHC-93 in BALB/C mouse exposed to A. alternata was examined. METHODS: Five groups, each consisting of 6 female BALB/C mice, were immunized as follows: group A was given IP injection of 100 g of A. alternata extract mixed with 6 mg EHC-93 and group B with same dose of A. alternata containing 6 mg alum. The control groups, C, D, and E were given IP injection of A. Alternata, EHC-93, and alum alone, respectively. All the groups were boosted in a similar way except A, B, and C received 10 g of the extract. The animals were bled at days 7, 14 and 21. The strength of specific antibodies was determined individually by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction. RESULTS: Groups A and B gave strong PCA reaction (10x14 mm) indicating that EHC-93 is equally potent adjuvant as alum. The mice immunized with A. alternata alone gave very week reaction (5x6 mm) and the groups D and E were found negative. CONCLUSIONS: EHC-93 appears to exert strong adjuvant activity for the production of specific IgE antibodies to in BALB/C mice when immunized with A. alternata. It could be hypothesized that influence of particulate air pollution in both allergic sensitization and inflammatory responses could be a result of gene-environment interactions. Funding: Health Canada

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