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Immune responses to colophony, an agent causing occupational asthma
R T Cullen1, B Cherrie, C A Soutar
1Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh.
Thorax
|December 1, 1992
Summary
Colophony (pine resin) can cause occupational asthma by acting as a hapten, triggering immune responses when conjugated to proteins. Unconjugated colophony is not readily immunogenic, suggesting a need for ex vivo modification for immune activation.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Inhalation of heated colophony (pine resin) fumes is a known cause of occupational asthma.
- The precise mechanisms of colophony-induced asthma and specific immune responses in sensitized workers remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether colophony is antigenic.
- To determine the role of immune responses in colophony-induced occupational asthma.
Main Methods:
- Immune responses to colophony were studied in mice and guinea pigs using colophony conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA) or human IgG.
- Dermal sensitization assays compared colophony and dinitrofluorobenzene.
Main Results:
- Mice immunized with colophony conjugates produced antibodies recognizing colophony components.
- Spleen cells from immunized mice showed proliferation in response to colophony conjugates.
- Unconjugated colophony did not induce an immune response or skin sensitization.
Conclusions:
- Colophony components can act as haptens, potentially contributing to occupational asthma pathogenesis through immune mechanisms.
- Colophony requires conjugation to proteins ex vivo to become immunogenic.