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Pigeon breeders’lung lacking detectable antibodies
Author(s) -
SENNEKAMP J.,
NIESE D.,
STROEHMANN I.,
RITTNER C.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2222.1978.tb03228.x
Subject(s) - immunology , antibody , inhalation , allergen , antigen , immunofluorescence , immune system , lung , biology , medicine , allergy , anatomy
Summary Whereas fifteen pigeon fanciers suffering from extrinsic allergic alveolitis from avian dust had high titres of antibodies against pigeon antigens, antibodies were not demonstrable, even by immunofluorescence, in the serum of a symptomatic individual exposed to minimal amounts of avian dust. Following exposure to larger quantities of pigeon dust by inhalation challenges, a low titre of antibodies appeared, but disappeared again after avoidance of the allergen. Cell‐mediated immunity was elevated in the lymphocyte transformation test and also decreased after avoidance of allergen contact. Therefore, it seems likely that the antibody is not the only mediator of pigeon breeder's lung. Inhalation challenges and T cell‐dependent immune reactivity may reveal more avian dust sensitive individuals suffering from fibrosis without the typical history of extrinsic allergic alveolitis and without detectable antibodies.