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• Edmondson, DA.
• Barrios, CS.
• Brasel, TL.
• Straus, DC.
• Kurup, VP.
• Fink, JN.
• [+] on Google Scholar
• Edmondson, DA.
• Barrios, CS.
• Brasel, TL.
• Straus, DC.
• Kurup, VP.
• Fink, JN.
• [+] on PubMed
• Edmondson, DA.
• Barrios, CS.
• Brasel, TL.
• Straus, DC.
• Kurup, VP.
• Fink, JN.

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Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2009, 10(12), 5471-5484; doi:10.3390/ijms10125471

Article

Immune Response among Patients Exposed to Molds

David A. Edmondson ¹ , Christy S. Barrios ^2,* , Trevor L. Brasel ³ , David C. Straus ⁴ , Viswanath P. Kurup ^2,5  and Jordan N. Fink ²

¹ The Allergy/Immunology Department at Ear, Nose and Throat Associates of North Central Wisconsin, 2801 Westhill Dr. Wausau, WI 54401, USA ² Department of Pediatrics and Medicine, Allergy and Immunology Division, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA ³ Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, 2425 Ridgecrest Dr. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, USA ⁴ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street Mail stop 6591, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA ⁵ Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Research Services 151-1, VA Medical Center, 5000 W. National Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53295, USA

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 7 November 2009; in revised form: 11 December 2009 / Accepted: 16 December 2009 / Published: 21 December 2009

(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Pathology)

Download PDF Full-Text [264 KB, uploaded 21 December 2009 17:38 CET]

Abstract: Macrocyclic trichothecenes, mycotoxins produced by Stachybotrys chartarum, have been implicated in adverse reactions in individuals exposed to mold-contaminated environments. Cellular and humoral immune responses and the presence of trichothecenes were evaluated in patients with mold-related health complaints. Patients underwent history, physical examination, skin prick/puncture tests with mold extracts, immunological evaluations and their sera were analyzed for trichothecenes. T-cell proliferation, macrocyclic trichothecenes, and mold specific IgG and IgA levels were not significantly different than controls; however 70% of the patients had positive skin tests to molds. Thus, IgE mediated or other non-immune mechanisms could be the cause of their symptoms.

Keywords: immune response; molds; mycotoxins; clinical symptoms

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