Peters Junenette L, Muilenberg Michael L, Rogers Christine A, Burge Harriet A, Spengler John D
Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2008 Apr;100(4):364-9. doi: 10.1016/S1081-1206(10)60600-X.
Sensitivity to Alternaria allergens has been associated with severe asthma and life-threatening exacerbations, and a high prevalence of Alternaria sensitivity has been reported among inner-city populations. Traditionally, epidemiologic studies have measured indoor Alternaria concentrations by cultural analyses; however, the number of viable spores may not be a good proxy for allergen levels. Furthermore, other genera share epitopes with Alternaria that may contribute to the allergenic effect.
To compare measures of Alternaria antigen by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with measures of Alternaria and cross-reactive genera (Ulocladium, Curvularia, Epicoccum, and Stemphylium) by cultural analysis.
Antigen assays and cultural analyses were performed on vacuum-collected bed dust samples collected between June 18, 2002, and February 9, 2004, from 3 inner-city, low-income public housing developments.
Alternaria antigen was found in all bed dust samples regardless of season. However, culturable Alternaria, Ulocladium, Curvularia, Epicoccum, and Stemphylium were only found in 50%, 35%, 6%, 11%, and 0% of bed samples, respectively. No correlations were found between Alternaria antigen and culturable concentrations of Alternaria or of its cross-reactive genera except for marginal correlation with Ulocladium culturable concentrations.
The results confirm that exposure to Alternaria antigens and allergens can occur even in the absence of culturable Alternaria or its cross-reactive genera, so further refinement and use of assays are essential for characterizing the distribution and determinants of indoor fungal allergen levels forsensitive populations.
对链格孢属过敏原敏感与严重哮喘及危及生命的病情加重有关，且据报道市中心城区人群中链格孢属敏感的患病率很高。传统上，流行病学研究通过培养分析来测量室内链格孢属浓度；然而，活孢子数量可能不是过敏原水平的良好指标。此外，其他属与链格孢属有共同表位，可能会导致过敏反应。
通过酶联免疫吸附测定法比较链格孢属抗原的测量结果与通过培养分析对链格孢属及交叉反应属（格孢腔菌属、弯孢属、附球菌属和匍柄霉属）的测量结果。
对2002年6月18日至2004年2月9日期间从3个市中心城区低收入公共住房开发区采集的真空床尘样本进行抗原检测和培养分析。
所有床尘样本中均发现了链格孢属抗原，与季节无关。然而，可培养的链格孢属、格孢腔菌属、弯孢属、附球菌属和匍柄霉属分别仅在50%、35%、6%、11%和0%的床尘样本中被发现。除了与格孢腔菌属可培养浓度存在微弱相关性外，链格孢属抗原与链格孢属及其交叉反应属的可培养浓度之间未发现相关性。
结果证实，即使不存在可培养的链格孢属或其交叉反应属，也可能接触到链格孢属抗原和过敏原，因此进一步完善和使用检测方法对于确定敏感人群室内真菌过敏原水平的分布和决定因素至关重要。
