Antibody Response to Long-term and High-dose Mould-exposed Sawmill Workers

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Antibody Response to Long-term and High-dose Mould-exposed Sawmill

Workers

Authors: Rydjord, B.1; Eduard, W.2; Stensby, B.1; Sandven, P.3;

sen, T. E.; Wiker, H. G.4

Source: Scandinavian Journal of Immunology, Volume 66, Number 6,

December 2007 , pp. 711-718(8)

Publisher: Blackwell Publishing

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/sji/2007/00000066/00000006/

art00014;jsessionid=6tl24ep4rnj3m.victoria

Abstract:

Exposure to moulds is thought to cause adverse health effects

ranging from vague subjective symptoms to allergy and respiratory

diseases. Until now, most studies have been emphasizing low levels

of exposure. In Norwegian sawmills during the 1980s, extensively

high spore counts up to 107 spores/m3 air were reported. By using

serum samples obtained from sawmill workers during that period, in

addition to control sera, we studied the antibody response of all

classes and IgG subclasses to Rhizopus microsporus at different

levels of exposure. Antigen specificity was further studied by

Western blotting. Exposure to R. microsporus was accompanied by R.

microsporus-specific antibody production against a wide range of

antigenic components most likely of both protein and carbohydrate

nature. Increasing levels of mould-specific IgG1, IgG2, IgG4 and IgA

antibodies were associated with increased exposure, while the

highest levels of exposure were associated with a somewhat reduced

level of mould-specific IgE antibodies. In conclusion, the present

study strongly suggests that high mould exposure can induce a strong

IgG and IgA response in a dose-dependent manner.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.2007.02022.x

Affiliations: 1: Division of Environmental Medicine, Norwegian

Institute of Public Health, Oslo 2: Department of Chemical and

Biological Working Environment, National Institute of Occupational

Health, Oslo 3: Division of Infectious Disease Control, Norwegian

Institute of Public Health, Oslo 4: Department of Microbiology and

Immunology, Haukeland University Hospital and The Gade Institute,

University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway