Sensitization to Soy Antigens in Workers at a Soy Plant

Details

• Personal Author:
  Beezhold, Donald H. ; Blanchere, Francoise M. ; Bledsoe TA ; Cox-Ganser, Jean M. ; Cummings, Kristin J. ; Gaughan, Denise M. ; Green, Brett J. ; Hettick JM ; Kreiss, Kathleen ; Kullman, Greg J. ; Siegel, Paul D.
• Description:
  Rationale: Exposure to soy antigens has been associated with asthma in community outbreaks and in some workplaces. We evaluated sensitization to soy antigens in workers at a soy processing plant. Methods: One hundred forty-seven workers participated. Subjects underwent skin prick testing (SPT; n=132) to soybean, and a panel of other aeroallergens. Total IgE and specific IgE titers (n=135) to soy, peanut, and storage mite were determined using Phadia ImmunoCap. Specific IgG to soy was also measured. ImmunoCAP positive sera to soy (n=16) were tested in IgE immunoblots and antigens were sequenced. Reactivity towards CP4-EPSPS, a protein found in genetically-modified soy processed at the plant, was investigated. De-identified sera from 50 healthcare workers (HCW) were used as a control. Results: Nine soy workers (7%) had positive SPT to soybean, 28 (21%) workers had specific IgE to soy, and all tested participants had detectable IgG to soy. The prevalence of positive soy-specific IgE was significantly higher in soy processing workers than in HCW controls (21% vs. 4%; p<0.05). Immunoblotting of soy extracts revealed IgE against multiple soy antigens with reactivity towards 75 kDa and 30 kDa bands being the most common. These antigens were identified to be the soy seed storage proteins ß-conglycinin (75 kDa) and a-glycinin (30 kDa). No IgE or IgG antibodies were identified to CP4-EPSPS. Conclusions: Soy plant workers with specific IgE to soy reacted most commonly with higher molecular weight (MW) antigens compared to the lower MW hull antigens identified in community asthma studies. Notably, no IgE reactivity to CP4-EPSPS was found. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Asthma Asthma, Occupational Food-Processing Industry Food Handling Food Industry Insecta Microbiology Occupational Health Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety
• Keywords:
  Bronchial-asthma Food-handlers Food-processing Food-processing-industry Food-processing-workers Insects Microorganisms Pulmonary-system-disorders Respiratory-system-disorders
• ISSN:
  0091-6749
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  125
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20036614
• Citation:
  J Allergy Clin Immunol 2010 Feb; 125(2)(S1):AB83
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2010
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2010 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting New Orleans, Louisiana, February 26-March 2, 2010
• Supplement:
  1
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7c2a507f4520b8663f20ab4327f5a064a698fdeaa30d97a7d94a9c065bd226de348ef444bf4a4e9b2d49de73fb3d2b6e44975120ab4ad0e1b6173c387077685b
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/187968/cdc_187968_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 39.54 KB ]