Anti‐Candida albicans IgE and IgG subclasses in sera of patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA)

Abstract

We performed immunoblotting experiments to determine specific IgE and IgG subclass responses to Candida albicans antigens in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) patients. This is a first report describing C. albicans antigens recognized by serum IgE and IgG subclasses of ABPA patients sensitized to that yeast. Among the various antigens reacting with serum IgE, a 43-kDa component was recognized by all seven patients and can be considered a major antigen of C. albicans for this particular group of patients. By comparison, only 20% of a group of asthmatic atopics (25 patients) and 10% of a group of normal controls (10 subjects) were 43-kDa positive. Multiple banding patterns, revealing no major antigen, were observed for all four IgG subclasses except for IgG1 in one case. In particular, the 43-kDa component was not always recognized by all the patients. Furthermore, oral or inhaled steroid treatment appears to have no impact on the specific IgE immunopatterns obtained. Using immunoelectron-microscopy, we localized IgE-binding primarily in the mannoprotein-containing layers of the C. albicans cell wall. In conclusion, C. albicans-IgE and IgG subclasses may participate in the physiopathology of ABPA by exacerbating pulmonary infiltrates (IgE) and inducing eosinophil-mediated inflammatory reaction (IgG1, IgG3).

Serologic IgE Immune Responses Against Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis

“…In our study, the IgE reactivity to C albicans was inhibited after serum preadsorption with C albicans extract but not A fumigatus, demonstrating the specificity of IgE reactivity to C albicans. These results are in keeping with those of Roig et al, 10 who did not find allergenic cross-reactivity between A fumigatus and C albicans using immunoblotting. Our results, unlike those of Wojnarowski et al, 8 show that sensitization to A fumigatus and C albicans was not associated with clinical disease.…”

“…Currently, there are no data indicating that Candida sp play a role in CF lung disease. The presence of specific IgE antibodies to C albicans has been reported in ABPA subjects, 10 meaning that the role of this yeast in ABPA merits consideration.…”

Exogenous Farnesol Interferes with the Normal Progression of Cytokine Expression during Candidiasis in a Mouse Model

“…Others have reported IL-5 expression during C. albicans infection (6), and it is thought that C. albicans may play a role in the development of certain allergies, including asthma (26,34). Therefore, for the first time, we show the mechanism by which C. albicans induction of IL-5 could contribute to this crucial event during the development of asthma (10,17,31,38). It remains to be determined whether the elevated levels of IL-5 produced in response to farnesol play a significant role in inhibiting Th1 cytokine expression or in suppressing immunity to systemic candidiasis.…”

Active intestinal tuberculosis with esophageal candidiasis due to idiopathic CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia in an elderly woman

“…It is known that eosinophilia is shown with some types of fungal infection such as candidiasis. The eosinophilia seen with Candida infection is thought to be related to allergy to Candida, 15 and the induction of an eosinophil-mediated inflammatory reaction, 16 although Candida-specific IgE antibody was negative in our patient. Ishikawa et al 17 Tuberculosis can involve the entire colon, or it can be segmental; however, involvement of the right-sided colon is more common than that of the left.…”