Both the variability and level of mouse allergen exposure influence the phenotype of the immune response in workers at a mouse facility.

BACKGROUND: The role of natural aeroallergen exposure in modulating allergen-specific immune responses is not well understood. OBJECTIVE: We sought to examine relationships between mouse allergen exposure and mouse-specific immune responses. METHODS: New employees (n = 179) at a mouse facility underwent repeated assessment of mouse allergen exposure, skin prick tests (SPTs), and measurement of mouse-specific IgG levels. Relationships between the mean level of exposure, variability of exposure (calculated as log deviation), and time to development of immunologic outcomes were examined by using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: By 24 months, 32 (23%) participants had experienced a positive SPT response, and 10 (8%) had mouse-specific IgG4. The incidence of a positive SPT response increased as levels of exposure increased from low to moderate, peaking at 1.2 ng/m³, and decreased beyond this point (P = .04). The more variable the exposure was across visits, the lower the incidence of a positive SPT response (hazard ratio [HR], 0.17; 95% CI, 0.07-0.41). Variability of exposure was an independent predictor of a positive SPT response in a model that included both exposure metrics. In contrast, the incidence of mouse-specific IgG4 increased with increasing levels of mouse allergen exposure (HR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.4-6.0), and there was evidence of a higher risk of mouse-specific IgG4 with greater variability of exposure (HR, 6.3; 95% CI, 0.4-95.2). CONCLUSION: Both the level and variability of mouse allergen exposure influence the humoral immune response, with specific patterns of exposure associated with specific immunophenotypes. Exposure variability might be a more important predictor of a positive SPT response, whereas the average exposure level might be a more important predictor of mouse-specific IgG4.

Occupational mouse allergen exposure among non-mouse handlers.

This study assessed mouse allergen exposure across a range of jobs, including non-mouse handling jobs, at a mouse facility. Baseline data from 220 new employees enrolled in the Jackson Laboratory (JAXCohort) were analyzed. The baseline assessment included a questionnaire, allergy skin testing, and spirometry. Exposure assessments consisted of collection of two full-shift breathing zone air samples during a 1-week period. Air samples were analyzed for mouse allergen content, and the mean concentration of the two shifts represented mouse allergen exposure for that employee. The mean age of the 220 participants was 33 years. Ten percent reported current asthma and 56% were atopic. Thirty-eight percent were animal caretakers, 20% scientists, 20% administrative/support personnel, 10% materials/supplies handlers, and 9% laboratory technicians. Sixty percent of the population handled mice. Eighty-two percent of study participants had detectable breathing zone mouse allergen, and breathing zone mouse allergen concentrations were 1.02 ng/m³ (0.13-6.91) (median [interquartile range (IQR)]. Although mouse handlers had significantly higher concentrations of breathing zone mouse allergen than non-handlers (median [IQR]: 4.13 ng/m³ [0.69-12.12] and 0.21 ng/m³ [below detection (BD)-0.63], respectively; p < 0.001), 66% of non-handlers had detectable breathing zone mouse allergen. Mouse allergen concentrations among administrative/support personnel and materials/supplies handlers, jobs that generally do not entail handling mice, were median [IQR]: 0.23 ng/m³ [BD-0.59] and 0.63 ng/m³ [BD-18.91], respectively. Seventy-one percent of administrative/support personnel, and 68% of materials/supplies handlers had detectable breathing zone mouse allergen. As many as half of non-mouse handlers may have levels of exposure that are similar to levels observed among mouse handlers.