The Journal of Immunology, Vol 149, Issue 9 3029-3034, Copyright © 1992 by American Association of Immunologists

ARTICLES

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

E Lobos, A Ondo, EA Ottesen and TB Nutman
Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.

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.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. Lobos, T. B. Nutman, J. S. Hothersall, and S. Moncada Elevated Immunoglobulin E against Recombinant Brugia malayi{gamma}-Glutamyl Transpeptidase in Patients with Bancroftian Filariasis: Association with Tropical Pulmonary Eosinophilia or Putative Immunity Infect. Immun., February 1, 2003; 71(2): 747 - 753. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]