Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2014 May;6(3):263-266. 10.4168/aair.2014.6.3.263.

The Prevalence of Serum Specific IgE to Superantigens in Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis Patients

• Liu JN
• Shin YS
• Yoo HS
• Nam YH
• Jin HJ
• Ye YM
• Nahm DH
• Park HS

• KMID: 2260690
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2014.6.3.263

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is the most common bacterium present in upper respiratory tract, and the toxins it produced are involved in allergic inflammation pathogenesis. In this study, we investigated the clinical significance of IgE in association with staphylococcal superantigens in allergic asthma with rhinitis (BAwAR) and allergic rhinitis alone (AR). We recruited 100 patients with BAwAR (group I), 100 patients with AR (group II), and 88 healthy controls (group III). Patients were clinically diagnosed by physicians, and were sensitized to house dust mites. Specific IgE antibodies to staphylococcal superantigen A (SEA), B (SEB), and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) were measured using the ImmunoCAP system. Other clinical parameters were retrospectively analyzed. All specific IgE antibodies to SEA, SEB, and TSST-1 were detected most frequently in group I (22%, 21%, and 27%), followed by group II (11%, 14%, and 21%) and group III (4.5%, 3.4%, and 2.3%). Absolute values of serum specific IgE to SEA, SEB, and TSST-1 were also significantly higher in group I (0.300+/-1.533 kU/L, 0.663+/-2.933 kU/L, and 0.581+/-1.931 kU/L) and group II (0.502+/-2.011 kU/L, 0.695+/-3.337 kU/L, and 1.067+/-4.688 kU/L) compared to those in group III (0.03+/-0.133 kU/L, 0.03+/-0.14 kU/L, and 0.028+/-0.112 kU/L). The prevalence of serum specific IgE to SEA was significantly higher in group I compared to group II (P=0.025). Blood eosinophil counts were significantly higher in patients with specific IgE to SEA or SEB, and higher serum levels of specific IgE to house dust mites were noted in patients with specific IgE to TSST-1. In conclusion, the present study suggested that IgE responses to staphylococcal superantigens are prevalent in the sera of both BAwAR and AR patients. This may contribute to an augmented IgE response to indoor allergens and eosinophilic inflammation.

Keyword

Superantigen; specific IgE; allergic rhinitis; bronchial asthma

MeSH Terms

Allergens
Antibodies
Asthma*
Eosinophils
Humans
Immunoglobulin E*
Inflammation
Prevalence*
Pyroglyphidae
Respiratory System
Retrospective Studies
Rhinitis*
Shock, Septic
Staphylococcus aureus
Superantigens*
Allergens
Antibodies
Immunoglobulin E
Superantigens

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The rates of positive responses of serum specific IgE to 3 staphylococcal superantigens in groups I (n=100), II (n=100), and III (n=88). Specific IgE antibodies to SEA, SEB and TSST-1 were compared among the 3 groups. SEA, staphylococcal enterotoxin A; SEB, staphylococcal enterotoxin B; TSST-1, toxic shock syndrome toxin-1.

• 

  Fig. 2 The absolute values of serum specific IgE to 3 staphylococcal superantigens in groups I (n=100), II (n=100), and III (n=88). Specific IgE antibodies to SEA, SEB and TSST-1 were compared among the 3 groups. (A) specific IgE level to SEA, (B) specific IgE level to SEB, (C) specific IgE level to TSST-1. SEA, staphylococcal enterotoxin A; SEB, staphylococcal enterotoxin B; TSST-1, toxic shock syndrome toxin-1.

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