ABSTRACT
Isoelectric focusing (IEF) studies on pigeon dropping extracts (PDE) revealed that it is a complex mixture of components that are acidic in nature. Chromatographically purified antigens PDEB, PDE1, and PDE3 showed multiple bands in IEF, indicating a microheterogeneity of these components, with peak concentrations focusing at pH 6.1, 4.6, and 3.8, respectively. The isoelectric points are compatible with the chromatographic behavior of these antigens on DEAE-cellulose. Crossed immunoelectrofocusing (CRIF) resolved PDE into seven precipitin lines with rabbit antiserum in a pH gradient from 3.5 to 9.5, and into nine precipitable components in a pH gradient from 2.5 to 7.0. The complexity of this antigen source appears to reside in the heterogeneity of immunologically related antigens. A comparison of pigeon breeder's sera by CRIF of PDE revealed a qualitative difference in precipitation patterns obtained with symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. Sera from all (eight out of eight) of the symptomatic breeders tested precipitated an unidentified component of PDE, whereas none (zero out of four) of the sera from asymptomatic breeders detected this antigen. These results suggest that CRIF of PDE is useful as a diagnostic tool and that some specific component of PDE may be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.
Subject(s)
Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic/immunology , Bird Fancier's Lung/immunology , Columbidae/immunology , Animals , Feces/immunology , Humans , Immunoelectrophoresis, Two-Dimensional , Isoelectric PointABSTRACT
Antigen PDEB was purified from pigeon dropping extracts and characterized as a basic glycoprotein, containing 93% protein and 7% carbohydrate, with a molecular weight of approximately 51,000. Based on its size, subunit composition, and cross-reactions with PDE1 (pigeon IgA) and papain digestion products of PDE1, PDEB appears to be the basic Fab fragments of antigen PDE1. The acidic Fab fragments (PDEA) and the Fc fragments (PDE2) of PDE1 were also isolated from the whole PDE as 50,000 MW components.
Subject(s)
Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic/immunology , Antigens/isolation & purification , Bird Fancier's Lung/immunology , Columbidae/immunology , Animals , Epitopes , Humans , Immunoglobulin A , Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments , Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments , Molecular Weight , PapainABSTRACT
Sera from patients with pigeon breeder's disease were analysed for precipitating antibodies by immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis using whole pigeon dropping extract (PDE) and a purified fraction of PDE (PDE1) as antigens. For comparison, sera from asymptomatic pigeon breeders and normal individuals were also tested for precipitating antibodies. Whereas whole PDE formed precipitin lines with normal serum as well as with serum from symptomatic and asymptomatic pigeon breeders, PDE1 formed precipitin lines only with serum from individuals exposed to pigeons, This suggests that whole PDE forms non-specific (non-antigen-antibody reactions) as well as specific precipitin lines, while PDE1 appears to form only specific lines. These data indicate that whole PDE has limited usefulness in studies of pigeon breeder's disease. It is also possible that PDE1 will be useful in studies of this disease.
Subject(s)
Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic/immunology , Antigens/isolation & purification , Bird Fancier's Lung/immunology , Precipitins , Animals , Columbidae , Feces/immunology , Humans , Immunodiffusion , ImmunoelectrophoresisABSTRACT
Antigen PDE1 was purified from pigeon dropping extracts by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and Bio-Gel A-1.5. It was characterized as a glycoprotein, containing 88% protein and 12% carbohydrate, with a molecular weight of approximately 200,000. PDE1 appears to be derived from pigeon intestinal IgA, showing the typical immunoglobulin structure of heavy and light chains. This antigen represents about 24% of the dry weight of the unfractionated pigeon dropping extract.
Subject(s)
Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic/immunology , Antigens/isolation & purification , Bird Fancier's Lung/immunology , Columbidae/immunology , Animals , Antigens/analysis , Chromatography, Gel , Chromatography, Ion Exchange , Humans , Immunoelectrophoresis , Immunoglobulin A , Molecular Weight , RabbitsABSTRACT
Approximately 6% of the dry organic dust from pigeon coops was extracted in the form of soluble, nondialyzable components. These pigeon dropping extracts contain a number of stable protein and glycoprotein antigens together with pigments and other components that cause nonspecific precipitation of normal and immune sera. Based on their migration in immunoelectrophoresis, the antigens have been designated PDEB, 1, 2, 3 or 4.
