Antibody and T cell responses against avian and microbial antigens associate with hypersensitivity pneumonitis disease parameters in pigeon breeders

Pigeon Fancier's Lung (PFL) is a form of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis where lung pathology occurs due to an immune reaction to repeated inhalation of large amounts of feather-derived and droppings-derived dust [1]. The 1μm dust particles penetrate the lower respiratory tract, initiating characteristic granulomatous inflammation in distal airways and alveoli. The particles, which carry pigeon antigens, cause irritation, and likely contain microbial components, both of which enhance immunogenicity.

[1]  S. Todryk,et al.  Anti-bacterial antibody and T cell responses in bronchiectasis are differentially associated with lung colonization and disease , 2018, Respiratory Research.

[2]  S. Johnston,et al.  Rhinovirus-induced VP1-specific Antibodies are Group-specific and Associated With Severity of Respiratory Symptoms , 2014, EBioMedicine.

[3]  M. Selman,et al.  Hypersensitivity pneumonitis: insights in diagnosis and pathobiology. , 2012, American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine.

[4]  Y. Cormier,et al.  Impaired function of regulatory T-cells in hypersensitivity pneumonitis , 2010, European Respiratory Journal.

[5]  R. Chapela,et al.  Subpopulations of T cells in lung biopsies from patients with pigeon breeder’s disease , 1987, Lung.

[6]  N. Inase,et al.  Utility of immunological tests for bird-related hypersensitivity pneumonitis. , 2015, Respiratory investigation.

[7]  M. Selman,et al.  Genetic susceptibility to multicase hypersensitivity pneumonitis is associated with the TNF-238 GG genotype of the promoter region and HLA-DRB1*04 bearing HLA haplotypes. , 2014, Respiratory medicine.

[8]  A. Estrada,et al.  Functional diversity of T-cell subpopulations in subacute and chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis. , 2008, American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine.

[9]  P. Bougiouklis.  Avian circoviruses of the genus Circovirus: A potential trigger in Pigeon breeder's lung (PBL)/Bird fancier's lung (BFL). , 2007, Medical hypotheses.