Cross-reactivities of murine IgE-inducing larval hemoglobins among various chironomid species

Abstract

Cross-reactivities of murine IgE-inducing hemoglobins (Hbs) among chironomid larvae belonging to various taxa were examined by PK type skin tests on the rats. Mouse IgE antibodies to a dimeric Hb component (DVI) of Chironomus yoshimatsui (CY), belonging to tribe Chironomini of subfamily Chironominae, reacted to dimeric Hb components from species of tribe Tanytarsini of Chironominae and subfamily Orthocladiinae as well as those of several genera of Chironomini. Similarly, IgE antibodies to a monomeric Hb component (MV) of Polypedilum nubifer (PNf) of Chironomini even reacted to a monomeric Hb of a species of subfamily Tanypodinae, distantly related to Chironomini, in addition to those of genera of Chironomini, Tanytarsini and Orthocladiinae. In contrast, IgE antibodies to a monomeric Hb component (MI) of CY reacted only to monomeric Hbs from some species of Chironomus and a species of Camptochironomus, closely related to Chironomus. Therefore, Hbs such as CY-DVI and PNf-MV are a promising candidate as a screening agent of chironomid hypersensitivity, while Hbs such as CY-MI can be used for estimation of the sensitizing species for a particular patient.