Lymphocyte sensitization to Aspergillus fumigatus antigens in pulmonary diseases in man

Abstract

In vitro studies of T-lymphocyte responses using five different batches o^ Aspergillus fumigatus antigens, were undertaken in twelve patients with A. fumigatus related lung disease and in three normal controls.Using a leucocyte migration method, five of the twelve patients showed significant inhibition of leucocyte migration with a migration index of 0-80 or less to A. fumigatus, but in only three was this demonstrated with more than one batch of antigen (one patient with aspergilloma and two with bronchopulmonary aspergillosis).The same antigens were used in lymphocyte transformation tests. Only two patients, one with aspergilloma and one with bronchopuhiionary aspergillosis, showed clearly significant transformation although there were several borderline results.Only three patients had evidence of delayed skin responses to /(./u/«/ga/wi antigens in vivo, one with aspergilloma, one with bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and one with atypical bronchopulnionary aspergillosis. Two of these three patients also had one or more positive in vitro test results.Thus T-lyniphocyte sensitization to A. fumigatus as demonstrated by these //; vitro methods, although present in occasional patients, was not clearly related to any one particular clinical syndrome in this small group of patients with aspergillus related pulmonary disease. There was, however, one of the three aspergilloma patients with positive lymphocyte transformation to all five batches of antigens and having higher transformation indices than in any other patient. This suggests that lymphocyte studies should be extended in this group.In contrast to the frequent negative results using A. futnigatus antigens, evidence of T-lymphocyte sensitization to either Candida albicans or Mycobacterium tuberculosis or both, was shown by positive delayed hypersensitivity skin responses and in vitro inhibition of leucocyte migration in the majority of the patients, despite which lymphocyte transformation was often negative. The possibility of impaired capacity to transform is supported by the finding of an impaired response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) in four of the twelve cases. Correspondence; Professor M. Turner-Warwick, Cardiothoracic Itistitule Brompton Hospital, London SW3. F 277 278 P. Haslam et al.This information, together with other data discussed, helps to complete the contrasting immunological proliies seen in different Aspergillus fumigatus related lung diseases.

Immunodiagnosis of aspergillosis

“…In some studies of A. fumigatus antigen-induced lymphocyte proliferation in ABPA patients, no correlation with disease activity was detected. In addition, proliferation was not significantly higher in ABPA patients than in patients with a positive immediate skin test reaction to A. fumigatus (77,211). These findings suggest that T-lymphocyte sensitization is not an important feature of ABPA.…”

Antibodies against <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i>

“…[10] and Fink el al. [8] it was observed in our laboratory that cul tures of A. fumigants grown under con trolled conditions may show differences in gross appearance and antigenic composi tion.…”

Immune modulation in malignant pleural effusion: from microenvironment to therapeutic implications

“…And HMGB1 can promote tumor formation, progression, and metastasis through enhancing the activity of NF-κB [ 124 ]. However, impared T-cell function is not necessarily a common finding along with asbestos-associated malignancy [ 125 ].…”