Mouse allergen-specific immunoglobulin G4 and risk of mouse skin test sensitivity

E C Matsui, G B Diette, E J M Krop, R C Aalberse, A L Smith, P A Eggleston

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: High serum levels of cat-specific IgG and IgG4 are associated with protection against allergic sensitization to cat, but whether this association applies to other animal allergens remains unclear.

    OBJECTIVE: To determine if high levels of mouse-specific IgG and IgG4 are associated with a decreased risk of mouse skin test sensitivity.

    METHODS: Two hundred and sixty workers of a mouse facility underwent skin prick testing and completed a questionnaire. Serum levels of mouse-specific IgG and IgG4 were quantified by solid-phase antigen binding assays. Room air samples were collected and airborne Mus m 1 was quantified by ELISA.

    RESULTS: Forty-nine participants had a positive skin prick test to mouse. Mouse-specific IgG was detected in 219 (84%) participants and IgG4 was detected in 72 (28%) participants. A detectable mouse-specific IgG4 level was associated with an increased risk of mouse skin test sensitivity (odds ratios (OR) 6.4, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 3.3-12.4). Mouse-specific IgG and IgG4 were both positively correlated with mouse allergen exposure (r(s)=0.31, P=0.0001, and r(s)=0.27, P=0.0006, respectively). The odds of skin test sensitivity peaked at moderate levels of IgG4, but decreased at the highest levels of mouse-specific IgG4. In contrast, the odds of skin test sensitivity increased monotonically with IgG levels.

    CONCLUSIONS: A detectable level of mouse-specific IgG4 is associated with an increased risk of skin test sensitivity to mouse. However, the highest IgG4 levels appear to be associated with an attenuated risk of mouse skin test sensitivity, suggesting that induction of high levels of IgG4 through natural exposure may protect against the development of allergic sensitization.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1097-103
    Number of pages7
    JournalClinical and Experimental Allergy
    Volume36
    Issue number8
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Aug 2006

    Keywords

    • Adult
    • Air Pollutants, Occupational
    • Allergens
    • Animal Husbandry
    • Animals
    • Cross-Sectional Studies
    • Female
    • Humans
    • Hypersensitivity
    • Immunoglobulin G
    • Logistic Models
    • Male
    • Medical Laboratory Personnel
    • Mice
    • Middle Aged
    • Occupational Diseases
    • Risk
    • Sensitivity and Specificity
    • Skin Tests

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