Biochemical and immunologic characterization of a major IgE-inducing filarial antigen of Brugia malayi and implications for the pathogenesis of tropical pulmonary eosinophilia

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 149; no. 9; pp. 3029 - 3034
• Main Authors: Lobos, E, Ondo, A, Ottesen, EA, Nutman, TB
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Am Assoc Immnol 01-11-1992; American Association of Immunologists
• Subjects: Allergens - immunology; Allergens - isolation & purification; Animals; Antigens, allergens; Antigens, Helminth - chemistry; Antigens, Helminth - immunology; Antigens, Helminth - isolation & purification; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Western; Brugia malayi; Chromatography, Ion Exchange; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Gene Expression Regulation - immunology; Humans; Immediate hypersensitivity. Allergy. Anaphylaxis, etc; Immunobiology; Immunoglobulin E - biosynthesis; Isoelectric Point; Lymphocyte Activation; Pulmonary Eosinophilia - etiology; Pulmonary Eosinophilia - immunology; Human; Molecular structure; Pathogenesis; Helminthiasis; Eosinophilia; Infection; Antigen; Characterization; Nematod disease; Antigenicity; Brugia malayi; Helmintha; Serum; Nemathelminthia; Filariosis; Invertebrata; Nematoda; Allergen
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.149.9.3029

A major allergen of the human filarial parasite Brugia malayi has been identified by two-dimensional immunoblot analysis using a serum pool from patients with tropical pulmonary eosinophilia. The allergen is composed of two Ag with M(r) 23 and M(r) 25 and acidic isoelectric point (Bm23-25). Immunoblots using affinity-purified IgE antibodies to BM23-25 indicated that Bm23-25 is expressed mainly in the microfilarial stage. Digestion of the allergen with endoglycosidases indicates that it has N-linked oligosaccharide chains. Analysis of the reactivity of T cells derived from patients with lymphatic filariasis revealed that the Bm23-25 allergen was capable of stimulating T cell proliferation; Bm23-25 was also shown to induce IgE production in vitro from PBMC derived from patients with either TPE or other filarial symptoms. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with TPE contained IgE antibodies that recognized Bm23-25 strongly, an observation suggesting that the microfilarial allergen might be involved in the pathogenesis of the TPE syndrome.