Public facility workers' immunological characteristics involved with development of respiratory allergic diseases in Korea.

We evaluated the immuno-pulmonary status of employees working at public facilities to determine whether they are at greater risk of developing respiratory allergies. Fifty-two employees from child daycare centers, elderly nursing homes, subway stations, and hypermarkets, and 17 office workers were recruited. All were subjected to a skin prick test (SPT) for 25 aeroallergens and the methacholine bronchial challenge test. Various immunological parameters, including plasma IgE and IgG4 levels, hematology parameters, and in vitro cytokine production from peripheral T cells, were assessed. Forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) were also determined. Of the facility employees, 54% responded to the SPT, and house dust mite induced positive skin reactions most frequently. Compared to the SPT-negative facility employees and the office workers, the SPT-positive facility employees had upregulated plasma IgE levels and eosinophil frequency in their peripheral blood. Their peripheral T cells also showed elevated IL-4 production relative to IFNgamma production. Four public facility employees who reacted to the methacholine challenge test had elevated eosinophil frequencies, increased plasma IgE levels, and lowered FEV1/FVC values. This study suggests that workers at public facilities could show greater risk towards the development of respiratory allergic diseases.