Cat and dust mite allergen levels, specific IgG and IgG4, and respiratory symptoms in adults

doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2006.10.042

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Volume 119, Issue 3, March 2007, Pages 697-704

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2006.10.042 Get rights and content

Background

Exposure to allergen may induce a modified T_H2 response characterized by high IgG₄ levels, absence of IgE sensitization, and a decreased risk of allergic respiratory symptoms.

Objective

To assess the association of IgG₄ level with allergic respiratory symptoms in a community-based sample of adults.

Methods

Information on exposure to cats, respiratory symptoms, and mattress allergen levels was obtained from 2780 adults. Levels of cat and house dust mite (HDM) specific IgE, IgG, and IgG₄ were measured. The association of exposure to allergen with IgG₄ and of IgG₄ with symptoms was assessed.

Results

Geometric mean (GM) cat specific IgG and IgG₄ was higher in subjects who had a cat that was allowed in the bedroom than in subjects without a cat (adjusted ratio of GM IgG₄, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.25-1.57). Levels of HDM specific IgG and IgG₄ were similar in subjects with undetectable and high (>20.22 μg/g) mattress Der 1 levels (adjusted ratio of GM IgG₄, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.89-1.17). There was no evidence that high cat or HDM specific IgG₄ levels were associated with less IgE sensitization or with fewer symptoms.

Conclusion

In this community-based sample of adults, high IgG₄ levels to cat or HDM were not associated with a lower risk of allergic respiratory symptoms.

Clinical implications

In adults, high cat allergen exposure does not protect against respiratory symptoms.

Section snippets

Methods

The methods for the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) I have been described elsewhere13, 14 and are also given in greater detail in this article's Online Repository at www.jacionline.org. Between 1998 and 2002, participants in ECRHS I in 22 centers (5 in Spain; 3 in Italy and Sweden; 2 in Belgium, the United Kingdom, France, Germany; 1 in Estonia, Iceland, and Switzerland) were recontacted and invited to visit a local clinic to complete a detailed questionnaire and have blood

Results

There were 2780 participants (1294 men and 1486 women) aged between 27 and 56 years (median, 44; interquartile range, 38-49) with serum cat specific IgE, IgG, and IgG₄ measures and information on current cat ownership (2498 with mattress Fel d 1 level). There were 2572 subjects with IgE, IgG, and IgG₄ to HDM and mattress Der 1 allergen measured. The number of subjects from each center and country are shown in this article's Table E2 in the Online Repository at www.jacionline.org.

The level of

Discussion

We have shown that in a community-based sample of adults, serum IgG and IgG₄ to cat and to HDM can be detected in most subjects and, for cat, are higher in subjects exposed to cat allergen. We have found no evidence that exposure to high levels of cat allergen in the home is associated with a lower prevalence of IgE sensitization to cat, or that high levels of cat specific IgG or IgG₄ are associated with a decreased risk of IgE sensitization or respiratory symptoms.

Participants in this study

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The coordination of ECRHS II was supported by the European Commission as part of their Quality of Life program. For funders of the data collection in each center, please see this article's Online Repository at www.jacionline.org.

Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: The authors have declared that they have no conflict of interest.

^†: Deceased.

View full text

Environmental and occupational respiratory disordersCat and dust mite allergen levels, specific IgG and IgG4, and respiratory symptoms in adults

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Clinical implications

Section snippets

Methods

Results

Discussion

Lancet

J Allergy Clin Immunol

J Immunol Methods

J Allergy Clin Immunol

Control Clin Trials

J Allergy Clin Immunol

J Allergy Clin Immunol

Development of immunoglobulin G subclass antibodies to ovalbumin, birch and cat during the first eight years of life in atopic and non-atopic children

Pediatr Allergy Immunol

The subclass of IgG antibody in allergic disease, II: the IgG subclass of antibodies produced following natural exposure to dust mite and grass pollen in dust mite and grass pollen in atopic and non-atopic individuals

Clin Exp Allergy

Longitudinal study on the relationship between cat allergen and endotoxin exposure, sensitization, cat specific IgG and development of asthma in childhood: report of the German Multicentre Allergy Study (MAS 90)

Allergy

Serologic aspects of IgG4 antibodies, I: prolonged immunization results in an IgG4-restricted response

J Immunol

Monitoring allergen immunotherapy of pollen-allergic patients: the ratio of allergen specific IgG4 and IgG1 correlates with clinical outcome

Clin Exp Allergy

Fel d 1-specific IgG antibodies induced by natural exposure have blocking activity in skin tests

Int Arch Allergy Immunol

Allergen-specific IgG4 in atopic disease

Allergy

Environmental and occupational respiratory disorders
Cat and dust mite allergen levels, specific IgG and IgG₄, and respiratory symptoms in adults