Evaluation of the sensitization of asthmatic patients to A.alternata, P.citrinum and A.fumigatus by IgE-immunoblotting

Background: There is evidence to demonstrate an association between fungal sensitization and asthma. Several studies have shown that saprophytic fungi such as Alternaria, Penicillium and Aspergillus species are the most prevalent fungal allergens worldwide. The main purpose of this study was to compare Alternaria alternata, Penicillium citrinum and Aspergillus fumigatus allergen bands by using the same patients and controls’ sera in clinical investigations. Methods: Forty-eight patients with asthma (23 males, 25 females) and Forty-eight healthy controls (23 males, 25 females) were collected in 2017. Glass beads and liquid nitrogen were used to disrupt the cell wall of cultured fungi. SDS-PAGE was used to isolate protein fractions. IgE immunoblotting against the patients and controls sera were performed to isolate protein bands after electrotransfering into the nitrocellulose membrane. Results: Our findings demonstrated the most allergenic bands consist to A. alternata with 17 bands (44.7%) relative to P. citrinum and A. fumigatus, and we found that asthmatic patients in the age range of 41 to 70 years were more sensitive when compared to other age groups. Conclusion: Our results showed that A. alternata had more power in sensitizing the patients in comparison with P. citrinum and A. fumigatus. Also, the protein bands with high molecular weight can be considered as an index of sensitizing in immunoblotting assay.