RationaleBAFF is a TNF superfamily member known for its role in the survival and maturation of B cells. Part of the BAFF transmembrane protein is shed and detectable in human serum. We explored whether serum BAFF was increased in patients with ABPA (ABPA pool), patients with asthma (Asthma pool) who displayed 3+ or 4+ skin prick reactivity to Aspergillus fumigatus, and normal controls without Aspergillus hypersensitivity.MethodsPatients experiencing exacerbations of ABPA, quiescent ABPA, and asthma with Aspergillus hypersensitivity were identified from the Allergy-Immunology service. Serum samples were analyzed by an ELISA kit for human BAFF (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN) according to manufacturer's protocol with range of detection from 6.6 to 4000 pg/mL. Total serum IgE concentrations were measured by ImmunoCAP (Phadia AB).ResultsThe concentrations of serum BAFF and total IgE, respectively are as follows: ABPA pool (416 pg/mL, 2642 kU/L), Asthma pool (466 pg/mL, 1134 kU/L), normal control #1 (254 pg/mL, 10 kU/L), normal control #2 (235 pg/mL, 105 kU/L). ABPA Patient #1: exacerbation after partial treatment with prednisone (421 pg/mL, 3261 kU/L) and quiescent ABPA (378 pg/mL, 1980 kU/L). ABPA Patient #2: exacerbation (324 pg/mL, 3261 kU/L) and quiescent ABPA (518 pg/mL, 254 kU/L).ConclusionsSerum BAFF concentrations in patients with ABPA and patients with asthma who displayed Aspergillus hypersensitivity are elevated numerically when compared with normal controls without Aspergillus hypersensitivity. In 2 patients experiencing an exacerbation of ABPA, there were no large increases in serum BAFF, opposite of total serum IgE. RationaleBAFF is a TNF superfamily member known for its role in the survival and maturation of B cells. Part of the BAFF transmembrane protein is shed and detectable in human serum. We explored whether serum BAFF was increased in patients with ABPA (ABPA pool), patients with asthma (Asthma pool) who displayed 3+ or 4+ skin prick reactivity to Aspergillus fumigatus, and normal controls without Aspergillus hypersensitivity. BAFF is a TNF superfamily member known for its role in the survival and maturation of B cells. Part of the BAFF transmembrane protein is shed and detectable in human serum. We explored whether serum BAFF was increased in patients with ABPA (ABPA pool), patients with asthma (Asthma pool) who displayed 3+ or 4+ skin prick reactivity to Aspergillus fumigatus, and normal controls without Aspergillus hypersensitivity. MethodsPatients experiencing exacerbations of ABPA, quiescent ABPA, and asthma with Aspergillus hypersensitivity were identified from the Allergy-Immunology service. Serum samples were analyzed by an ELISA kit for human BAFF (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN) according to manufacturer's protocol with range of detection from 6.6 to 4000 pg/mL. Total serum IgE concentrations were measured by ImmunoCAP (Phadia AB). Patients experiencing exacerbations of ABPA, quiescent ABPA, and asthma with Aspergillus hypersensitivity were identified from the Allergy-Immunology service. Serum samples were analyzed by an ELISA kit for human BAFF (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN) according to manufacturer's protocol with range of detection from 6.6 to 4000 pg/mL. Total serum IgE concentrations were measured by ImmunoCAP (Phadia AB). ResultsThe concentrations of serum BAFF and total IgE, respectively are as follows: ABPA pool (416 pg/mL, 2642 kU/L), Asthma pool (466 pg/mL, 1134 kU/L), normal control #1 (254 pg/mL, 10 kU/L), normal control #2 (235 pg/mL, 105 kU/L). ABPA Patient #1: exacerbation after partial treatment with prednisone (421 pg/mL, 3261 kU/L) and quiescent ABPA (378 pg/mL, 1980 kU/L). ABPA Patient #2: exacerbation (324 pg/mL, 3261 kU/L) and quiescent ABPA (518 pg/mL, 254 kU/L). The concentrations of serum BAFF and total IgE, respectively are as follows: ABPA pool (416 pg/mL, 2642 kU/L), Asthma pool (466 pg/mL, 1134 kU/L), normal control #1 (254 pg/mL, 10 kU/L), normal control #2 (235 pg/mL, 105 kU/L). ABPA Patient #1: exacerbation after partial treatment with prednisone (421 pg/mL, 3261 kU/L) and quiescent ABPA (378 pg/mL, 1980 kU/L). ABPA Patient #2: exacerbation (324 pg/mL, 3261 kU/L) and quiescent ABPA (518 pg/mL, 254 kU/L). ConclusionsSerum BAFF concentrations in patients with ABPA and patients with asthma who displayed Aspergillus hypersensitivity are elevated numerically when compared with normal controls without Aspergillus hypersensitivity. In 2 patients experiencing an exacerbation of ABPA, there were no large increases in serum BAFF, opposite of total serum IgE. Serum BAFF concentrations in patients with ABPA and patients with asthma who displayed Aspergillus hypersensitivity are elevated numerically when compared with normal controls without Aspergillus hypersensitivity. In 2 patients experiencing an exacerbation of ABPA, there were no large increases in serum BAFF, opposite of total serum IgE.