Antibodies against Aspergillus fumigatus in bronchial secretions from patients without aspergillosis.

Abstract

Antibodies to Aspergillus fumigatus were investigated by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in bronchial secretions (BS) and sera from 40 patients with neoplasia, lung infiltrates of non-fungal aetiology or chronic bronchitis. By IIF, IgG aspergillus antibodies were found in 23 samples of BS (58%) (titre range 10-40) and in all 40 sera (titre range 10-1280). IgA aspergillus antibodies were detected in 33 samples of BS (83%) (titre range 10-160) and in 33 sera (83%) (titre range 10-40). IgM aspergillus antibodies occurred in 2 samples of BS (5%) (titre 10 and 40) compared with 35 sera (88%) (titre range 10-40). Antibodies with secretory component (SC) were detected in 20 of 39 BS samples tested (51%) (titre range 10-160). Significantly higher levels of IgA antibodies were detected by ELISA in BS than in serum (2p less than 0.05) and, conversely, significantly higher levels of IgG antibodies were found in serum than in BS (2p less than 0.001). Low levels of antibodies with SC were also detected in BS by ELISA. These results suggest that aspergillus antibodies are produced within the bronchopulmonary system in patients without aspergillosis.