Hypersensitivity Reactions and Specific Antibodies in Workers Exposed to Industrial Enzymes at a Biotechnology Plant

Abstract

Thirty‐six employees who produced industrial enzymes from selected strains of bacteria and fungi were evaluated by epicutaneous threshold testing and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for specific IgE and IgG antibodies. The workers complained of ‘asthma‐ and flu‐like’ symptoms, which generally lessened away from work. The enzymes evaluated were: α‐amylase (1,4‐α‐d‐glucan glucanohydrolase) from Bacillus licheniformis (αABl), B. subtilis formation 1 (αA1Bs) and B. subtilis formation 2 (αA2Bs); purified α‐amylase from B. licheniformis (CαABl) and A. oryzae (CαAAo); alkaline protease from B. licheniformis (APBl) and purified alkaline protease (CAPBl); amyloglucosidase (1,4‐α‐d‐glucan glucohydrolase) from A. niger (AGAn) and purified amyloglucosidase (CAGAn). Statistically significant increases (P > 0.05) in the proportion of workers having positive skin tests to CAPBl, AGAn and CAGAn were found. Significantly elevated (P > 0.05) mean specific IgE results were observed for CαAAo CAGAn and AGAn, and elevated (P > 0.05) mean specific IgGs were observed for CαAAo, CAGAn, AGAn, αA1Bs, αAB1 and αA2Bs. These results indicate that occupational exposure to some industrial enzymes can cause immediate‐onset cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions, pulmonary function deficits and significantly elevated specific antibody levels. Our results are equivocal as to whether work‐related respiratory and cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions are antibody mediated, as there was no statistically significant association between these reactions and specific IgE or IgG levels.

Evaluation of ortho-phthalaldehyde in eight healthcare facilities.

“…We assayed OPA-specific IgE and IgG antibodies in triplicate by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay detection of the immunocomplexes with a labeled immunoglobulin as previously described [Biagini et al 1990;Biagini et al 1996;Crowther 2001]. We assayed specific IgE and IgG at 1:10 and 1:100 dilutions of test sera.…”

Allergy and Dermatophytes

“…True subtilisins derived from bacteria are among the best characterized of the subtilase enzyme family. Subtilisin Carlsberg (alcalase) produced by Bacillus licheniformis is frequently used in detergent formulations, and allergic respiratory reactions to alcalase have been reported among exposed factory workers (12,88). More recently, a novel subtilisin homologue with IgE antibody binding properties derived from the fungus Penicillium citrinum was identified (110).…”

Occupational asthma and allergy associated with the use of enzymes in the detergent industry–a review of the epidemiology, toxicology and methods of prevention

“…We have estimated that protease and amylase enzyme levels in our facilities may have been in the hundreds of nanograms to low microgram/m 3 range in the late 1960s. Lowering the enzyme dust levels to low nanogram/m 3 range in the early 1970s eliminated much of the asthma and allergy symptoms [8, 10, 16, 19]. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) established a threshold limit value (TLV) for the enzyme subtilisin (protease) of 60 ng of pure crystalline protein/m 3 .…”

“…Occupational asthma (OA) associated with the use of proteolytic enzymes in the manufacture of detergents was reported by Flindt and Pepys in 1969 [1, 2]. The medical community rapidly recognized the risk of allergic antibody‐mediated OA associated with enzyme use in the detergent industry [3–16] as well as during the manufacture of enzymes [17–19]. The first enzyme to be associated with adverse respiratory health affects was a serine protease derived from Bacillus species.…”