Aspergillus fumigatusInduces Immunoglobulin E–Independent Mast Cell Degranulation

Pulmonary colonization by Aspergillus fumigatus in chronic lung disease is associated with progressive decline in lung function even in the absence of specific allergic response. We hypothesized that A. fumigatus contributes to this decline by inducing pulmonary mast cell degranulation even in the absence of antigen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE). Therefore, we investigated whether A. fumigatus can induce mast cell degranulation independently of IgE.