RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of this study sought to evaluate the frequency of sensitivity of Iranian asthmatic patients to three regional Aspergillus species of fumigatus, flavus and niger, by detection of antigen-specific IgE in the patients' sera. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Crude extracts were prepared following the disruption of fungi cell walls by the application of glass beads and their protein fractions were isolated by SDS-PAGE. After electrotransfer of protein bands into the nitrocellulose membrane, IgE-immunoblotting was performed against the sera from 32 asthmatic patients in addition to 20 healthy controls. RESULTS: Our results interestingly showed that all of the studied Iranian asthmatic patients were sensitive to A. fumigatus and A. flavus antigens. This frequency was 65.6% in the case of A. niger, however, all control samples were negative. Age/sex analysis generally indicated higher sensitivities of young patients (<30 years old) to Aspergillus species with a statistical significance in the case of A. niger (P=0.02) and additionally more sensitivity of females. Using Immunoblotting assay, 23 IgE-reactive allergenic components from A. fumigatus, 15 from A. flavus and 13 from A. niger in a broad molecular weight spectrum were identified, among which several fragments were not previously reported. CONCLUSION: Overall, this study found a high frequency of sensitivity of Iranian asthmatic patients to regional isolates of A. fumigatus, A. flavus and A. niger, which suggested the importance of these species in development of asthma. Moreover, we reported allergenic profiles of Iranian isolates in different patterns not previously observed.
