IgE Antibodies to Bacteria in Patients with Bronchial Asthma

Abstract

Bacterial respiratory infections, especially with Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae, are frequently associated with an increase of airways obstruction in patients with bronchial asthma. The possible involvement of immediate hypersensitivity in this phenomenon was studied. IgE antibodies to Haemophilus influenzae (HI) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (SPn) were investigated in the serum of 190 adult patients with bronchial asthma. The IgE antibodies were measured using a solid phase radioimmunoassay method. Living bacteria were used as solid phase. A correction of the non-specific binding of IgE was necessary. IgE antibodies to one or both bacteria were present in 55 of the 190 patients (29%). Eighteen patients were sensitive to HI, 33 to SPn and four to both bacteria. Significantly more IgE antibodies to bacteria were found in patients with demonstrable IgE antibodies to various inhalant allergens. However, the IgE antibodies to one or both bacteria were also present in 22% of patients with no other demonstrable IgE mediated hypersensitivity. The total serum IgE level in patients with IgE antibodies to bacteria was not significantly higher than in patients without hypersensitivity to these bacteria. From these data we concluded that immediate hypersensitivity to bacteria may play a role in the infectious exacerbations of bronchial asthma.

Do bacteria have a role in asthma development?

“…The levels of IgE antibodies to H. influenzae and S. pneumonia were very low in this study. Furthermore, the findings do not agree with the previous report discussed previously showing a positive relationship between IgE to H. influenzae and S. pneumonia with atopy [16,19]. Future studies will have to elucidate a potential dualistic role of Th2 responses as proposed by the authors.…”

“…IgE antibodies towards bacterial antigens have also been described previously. Specific IgE to H. influenzae and S. pneumonia have been found in the serum of approximately a third of atopic children and asthmatic adults, but unlike in the study by HOLLAMS et al [16] they were all related to a subject's atopic status [19].…”

Bacterial Infection in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

“…In another study in asthmatics, 29% of patients had serum IgE antibodies to nontypeable H. influenzae and/or S. pneumoniae (238). This sensitization to bacterial antigens may contribute to the bronchoconstriction and airway inflammation seen with acute exacerbations of COPD.…”

Th2-associated immunity to bacteria in teenagers and susceptibility to asthma

“…The presence of underlying type-2 immune responses to nonenterotoxin-producing bacteria in asthmatics, in particular bacterial-specific IgE, has been known for some time [13,14]. Moreover these responses have recently been shown to be markedly increased following severe asthma exacerbations in children [15] suggesting that antigens from these bacteria gain entrance to the immune system via the inflamed airway mucosa.…”