The primary interaction of antibody to components of aspergilli: II. Antibodies in sera from normal persons and from patients with aspergillosis

Abstract

The capacity of antibodies in 102 human sera to bind components of aspergilli was studied. Sera were from patients with pulmonary aspergillosis or a variety of other clinical disorders and from healthy individuals. The antigens employed were anionic mucopolysaccharide components derived from A. fumigatus and A. nidulans and were not precipitated by antibodies in either human or rabbit sera. The antigens were soluble in 10 per cent trichloroacetic add and 50 per cent saturated ammonium sulfate, and antigen binding was measured by radioimmunodiffusion and the ammonium sulfate test. Sera from patients with aspergillosis, particularly the mycetomal form, bound significantly greater amounts of the antigens than did the other sera. Binding was associated with IgM and IgG, was to the F(ab)′2 portion of immunoglobulin, and was immunologically specific. Inhibition studies demonstrated the presence of shared antigens between aspergilli and a variety of other fungi, mycobacteria, non-acid-fast bacteria, and commercial house dust concentrates. The minimal but significant binding observed with sera from normal individuals is probably the result of antigenic stimulation by aspergilli as well as other fungi and organisms in the environment.