Líffræðifélag Íslands - biologia.is
Líffræðiráðstefnan 2025
Erindi/veggspjald / Talk/poster E3
Höfundar / Authors: Sigridur Jonsdottir1,2
Starfsvettvangur / Affiliations: 1Institute for Experimental Pathology, Biomedical Center, University of Iceland, Keldur, Reykjavik, Iceland. 2Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Kynnir / Presenter: Sigríður Jónsdóttir
Background: Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is an IgE-mediated dermatitis of horses caused by bites of Culicoides. IBH is a severe problem in horses exported from Iceland to Culicoides endemic areas. The allergens, salivary gland proteins, have been expressed and purified. We are developing an allergen immunotherapy for IBH, based on the major allergens. The aim was to develop an IBH diagnostic test using single allergens that would be applied for patient-tailored allergen immunotherapy. Methods: Eight major allergens were expressed in insect cells and purified. Blood samples from 52 horses, 28 IBH-affected and 24 healthy, living in Switzerland, were included in the study. Peripheral blood leucocytes were stimulated with each allergen in a sulfidoleukotriene (sLT) release assay and serum IgE was measured by ELISA. Results: All eight allergens were successfully purified. Significantly more sLT was measured from PBL from IBH-affected horses as compared to healthy horses following stimulation with each allergen, AUC ranging from 0.809 to 0.971, Bac-Culo3, -Culo8 and -Culo9 giving the highest AUC. The level of allergen-specific IgE to each allergen was significantly higher in IBH horses as compared to healthy, AUC ranging from 0.878 to 1, Bac-Culo2P, -Culo7 and -Culo8 giving the highest AUC. Conclusions: A panel of pure major allergens that can be used in a functional allergy test as well as serology opens the possibility of patient-tailored allergen immunotherapy.