Abstract
In order to investigate the mechanism of the development of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), mononuclear cells with receptors to Fc portion of IgE (FcεR (+) cells) were counted and ratios to total number of mononuclear cells were calculated. Human leucocyte antigens (HLA) were also analysed in six patients for the same reason. The conclusions are as follows.
1) The ratios of FcεR (+)-non-T cells (mainly B cells) in ABPA patients were not different from those in normal individuals. FcεR (+)-T cells were not detected in either ABPA patients or normal individuals. All ABPA patients were receiving steroid therapy. In one patient the ratio of FcεR (+)-T cells increased at exacerbation.
2) No specific HLA type increased in patients with ABPA.
3) In patients with atopic asthma, the ratios of FcεR (+)-non T cells increased in comparison with normal individuals, especially when serum IgE levels of the patients were over than 10, 000U/ml. The ratios in patients correlated well with IgE levels (r=0.79, p<0.001). FcεR (+)-T cells were almost undetectable in asthmatic patients.
