Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2017 Jan;9(1):85-91. 10.4168/aair.2017.9.1.85.

Association of MBL With Work-Related Respiratory Symptoms in Bakery Workers

• Kim MA
• Yoon MK
• Kim SH
• Park HS

• KMID: 2355898
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2017.9.1.85

Abstract

Baker's asthma is the most prevalent occupational asthma, and IgE-mediated response is known as a major pathogenesis. However, recent studies have suggested the involvement of innate immune response because wheat flour contains bacterial endotoxins or lipopolysaccharides. To further understand a role of innate immune response in the development of work-related respiratory symptoms (WRS) in bakery workers, we investigated mannose-binding lectin (MBL), one of the initiating components of the complement cascade in a single cohort of bakery workers. A total of 373 bakery workers completed a questionnaire regarding WRS. The bakery workers were divided into 2 groups according to previous history of allergic rhinitis (AR)/bronchial asthma (BA): those with history of AR/BA (group I) and those without (group II). We measured serum MBL levels by using enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay and genotyped 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms of the MBL2 gene (226G>A in exon 1, -554G>C, -431A>C, and -225G>C in the promoter) by using TaqMan assays. Fifty-nine subjects (15.5%) were previously diagnosed with AR/BA, and 64 subjects (16.8%) complained of WRS. No significant differences were found in serum MBL levels between groups I and II. However, in group II subjects, but not in group I subjects, the serum MBL levels were significantly higher in bakery workers with WRS than in those without. In addition, the serum MBL levels were significantly different according to genetic polymorphisms of the MBL2 gene and its haplotypes. In conclusion, serum MBL, affected by genetic polymorphisms, may be associated with WRS in bakery workers with no previous history of AR/BA.

Keyword

Work-related respiratory symptoms; mannose-binding lectin; baker's asthma

MeSH Terms

Asthma
Asthma, Occupational
Cohort Studies
Complement System Proteins
Endotoxins
Exons
Flour
Haplotypes
Immunity, Innate
Lipopolysaccharides
Mannose-Binding Lectin
Polymorphism, Genetic
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
Rhinitis, Allergic
Triticum
Complement System Proteins
Endotoxins
Lipopolysaccharides
Mannose-Binding Lectin

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Comparison of serum MBL levels according to WRS in group I (bakery workers with previous history of AR/BA) and group II (bakery workers with no history of AR/BA). There were no significant differences in MBL levels according to WRS in group I (workers with WRS, 679.0±300.1 ng/mL; workers without WRS, 692.5±399.9 ng/mL; P=0.897), while a significantly higher MBL level was noted in bakery workers with WRS in group II (workers with WRS, 790.8±399.2 ng/mL; workers without WRS, 653.9±319.1 ng/mL; P=0.035).

• 

  Fig. 2 Comparison of serum MBL levels according to MBL2 genotypes. Serum MBL levels were significantly differed according to genetic polymorphisms of the MBL2 gene at −554G>C (A. 955.5± 31.8 ng/mL in the GG genotype, 584.6±18.3 ng/mL in the GC or CC genotype; P<0.001), −225G>C (C. 719.7±19.6 ng/mL in the GG genotype, 519.3±37.2 ng/mL in the GC or CC genotype; P<0.001), and 226G>A (D. 821.0±18.6 ng/mL in the GG genotype, 425.5±24.5 ng/mL in the GA or AA genotype; P<0.001), while −431A>C genetic polymorphism showed no significant differences (660.2±20.1 ng/mL in the AA genotype, 739.3±40.1 ng/mL in the AC or CC genotype; P=0.079).

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