Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Enzymes as occupational and environmental respiratory sensitisers

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A literature review shows that airborne enzymes occurring in the general environment and in purified form in industrial production have a high allergenic potential to the airways, causing rhinitis, conjunctivitis and asthma. It can be assumed that this also applies to the increasing number of enzymes manufactured by the cloning of fast-growing genetically engineered microorganisms. Cross-sectional studies demonstrate exposure–response relations for IgE-mediated sensitisation and airway disorders. Atopic individuals are more susceptible to enzyme allergy than non-atopic individuals. Skin prick testing and measurement of specific IgE antibodies have been shown to be useful diagnostic tools. Very high concentrations of proteases may lead to emphysema. There is also evidence for non-allergic airway inflammation by proteases, probably via protease-activated receptor-2 and intracellular Ca2+ release. It is recommended that all enzymes be classified with the risk phrase R42 (may cause sensitisation by inhalation) and that their inhalative uptake be totally avoided.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ackerman NR, Corkey R, Perkins D (1977) Pathogenesis of papain emphysema in the hamster. Am Rev Respir Dis 4:199

    Google Scholar 

  • Asokananthan N, Graham PT, Stewart DJ, Bakker AJ, Eidne KA, Thompson PJ, Stewart GA (2002) House dust mite allergens induce proinflammatory cytokines from respiratory epithelial cells: the cysteine protease allergen, Der p 1, activates protease-activated receptor (PAR)-2 and inactivates PAR-1. J Immunol 169:4572–4578

    Google Scholar 

  • Association of Manufacturers and Formulators of Enzyme Products (AMFEP) (2001) List of commercial enzymes. Updated 1 October 2001 .Brussels. http://www.amfep.org

  • Baur X, König G, Bencze K, Fruhmann G (1982) Clinical symptoms and results of skin test, RAST and bronchial provocation test in thirty three papain workers: evidence for strong immunogenic potency and clinically relevant “proteolytic effects of airborne papain”. Clin Allergy 12:9–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Baur X, Sauer W, Weiss W, Fruhmann G (1989) Inhalant allergens in the modern baking industry. Immunol Allergy Pract 11:13–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Baur X, Sander I, van Kampen V (2000) Aerogene Enzyme sind aggressive berufliche Inhalationsallergene. Dtsch Med Wochenschr 125.30:912–917

    Google Scholar 

  • Baur X, Melching-Kollmuss S, Koops F, Strassburger K, Zober A (2002) IgE-mediated allergy to phytase—a new animal feed additive. Allergy 57:943–945

    Google Scholar 

  • Brisman J, Nieuwenhuijsen MJ, Venables KM, Putcha V, Gordon S, Taylor AJ (2004) Exposure–response relations for work related respiratory symptoms and sensitisation in a cohort exposed to alpha-amylase. Occup Environ Med 61:551–553

    Google Scholar 

  • Cullinan P, Harris JM, Newman Taylor AJ, Hole AM, Jones M, Barnes F, Jolliffe G (2000) An outbreak of asthma in a modern detergent factory. Lancet 356:1899–1900

    Google Scholar 

  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2004) List of MAK and BAT values 2004. Wiley-VCH, Weinheim

    Google Scholar 

  • Flindt MLH (1969) Pulmonary disease due to inhalation of derivatives of Bacillus subtilis containing proteolytic enzyme. Lancet I:1177–1181

    Google Scholar 

  • Gandevia B, Mitchel C (1971) The dangers of proteolytic enzymes to workers. Med J Aust 1:1032

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldring I, Greenburg L, Ratner I (1968) On the production of emphysema in Syrian hamsters by aerosol inhalation of papain. Arch Environ Health 16:59–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Gough L, Campbell E, Bayley D, Van Heeke G, Shakib F (2003) Proteolytic activity of the house dust mite allergen Der p 1 enhances allergenicity in a mouse inhalation model. Clin Exp Allergy 33:1159–1163

    Google Scholar 

  • Gross P, Babyak A, Tolker E, Kaschak M (1964) Enzymatically produced pulmonary emphysema. J Occup Med 6:481

    Google Scholar 

  • Gross P, Pfitzer EA, Tolker E, Babyak MA, Kaschak M (1965) Experimental emphysema. Arch Environ Health 11:50–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Hassim Z, Maronese SE, Kumar RK (1998) Injury to murine airway epithelial cells by pollen enzymes. Thorax 53:368–371

    Google Scholar 

  • Heederik D (2003) Allergen exposure and occupational respiratory allergy and asthma. In: Nieuwenhuijsen MJ (ed) Exposure assessment in occupational and environmental epidemiology. University Press, Oxford, pp. 203–219

    Google Scholar 

  • Hong JH, Lee SI, Kim KE, Yong TS, Seo JT, Sohn MH, Shin DM (2004) German cockroach extract activates protease-activated receptor 2 in human airway epithelial cells. J Allergy Clin Immunol 113:315–319

    Google Scholar 

  • Houba R, Heederik DJJ, Doekes G, van Run PEM (1996) Exposure–sensitization relationship for α-amylase allergens in the baking industry. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 154:130–136

    Google Scholar 

  • International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS). Allergen Nomenclature Sub-Committee (ed) List of allergens as of 7 June 2004, http://www.allergen.org/list.htm

  • Johnsen CR, Sorensen TB, Larsen AI, Secher AB, Andreasen E, Kofoed GS, Nielsen LF, Gyntelberg F (1997) Allergy risk in an enzyme producing plant: a retrospective follow up study. Occup Environ Med 54:671–675

    Google Scholar 

  • Juniper CP, How MJ, Goodwin BF, Kinshott AK (1977) Bacillus subtilis enzymes: A 7-year clinical, epidemiological and immunological study of an industrial allergen. J Soc Occup Med 27:3–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Kämpe M, Stalenheim G, Edling C, Norbäck D, Almby B (1989) Enzyme allergies in research laboratories. Clin Exp Allergy 19:120

    Google Scholar 

  • Kizkin O, Suleyman GT, Hacievliyagil S, Gunen H (2002) Proteolytic enzyme sensitivity and decrease in respiratory function (a 10-year follow-up). Int Arch Occup Environ Health 75:441–444

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurup VP, Xia JQ, Shen HD, Rickaby DA, Henderson JD Jr, Fink JN, Chou H, Kelly KJ, Dawson CA (2002) Alkaline serine proteinase from Aspergillus fumigatus has synergistic effects on Asp-f-2-induced immune response in mice. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 129:129–137

    Google Scholar 

  • Muir DC, Verrall AB, Julian JA, Millman JM, Beaudin MA, Dolovich J (1997) Occupational sensitization to lactase. Am J Ind Med 31:570–571

    Google Scholar 

  • Musk AW, Gandevia B (1976) Loss of pulmonary elastic recoil in workers formerly exposed to proteolytic enzyme (alcalase) in the detergent industry. Br J Ind Med 33:158–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Newhouse ML, Tagg B, Pocock SJ, McEwan AC (1970) An epidemiological study of workers producing enzyme washing powders. Lancet 1:689–693

    Google Scholar 

  • Nomenclature Committee of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NC-IUBMB). Enzyme nomenclature. Recommendations of the Nomenclature Committee of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology on the nomenclature and classification of enzyme-catalysed reactions. http://www.chem.qmul.ac.uk/iubmb/enzyme/

  • Palecek F, Palecekova M, Aviado DM (1967) Emphysema in immature rats. Condition produced by tracheal constriction and papain. Arch Environ Health 15:332–342

    Google Scholar 

  • Sander I, Raulf-Heimsoth M, Siethoff C, Lohaus C, Meyer HE, Baur X (1998) Allergy to Aspergillus-derived enzymes in baking industry: identification of β-xylosidase from Aspergillus niger as new allergen (Asp n 14). J Allergy Clin Immunol 102:256–264

    Google Scholar 

  • Schweigert MK, Mackenzie DP, Sarlo K (2000) Occupational asthma and allergy associated with the use of enzymes in the detergent industry—a review of the epidemiology, toxicology and methods of prevention. Clin Exp Allergy 30:1511–1518

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart GA, McWilliam AS (2001) Endogenous function and biological significance of aeroallergens: an update. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 1:95–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart GA, Thomsen PJ, McWilliam AS (1993) Biochemical properties of aeroallergens: contributory factors in allergic sensitization. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 4:163–172

    Google Scholar 

  • Strassburger K, Bossert J, Baur X, Zober A (1999) Sensibilisierungen durch die Enzyme Phytase und Xylanase. In: Hallier E, Bünger J (eds) Gesundheitsgefahren durch biologische Arbeitsstoffe. 38. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Arbeitsmedizin und Umweltmedizin e.V. Rindt, Fulda, pp 525–527

  • Vanhanen M, Tuomi T, Hokkanen H, Tupasela O, Tuomainen A, Holmberg PC, Leisola M, Nordman H (1996) Enzyme exposure and enzyme sensitisation in the baking industry. Occup Environ Med 53:670–676

    Google Scholar 

  • Vanhanen M, Tuomi T, Nordman H, Tupasela O, Holmberg PC, Miettinen M, Mutanen P, Leisola M (1997) Sensitization to industrial enzymes in enzyme research and production. Scand J Work Environ Health 23:385–391

    Google Scholar 

  • Weill H, Waddell LC, Ziskind M (1971) A study of workers exposed to detergent enzymes. J Am Med Assoc 217:425–433

    Google Scholar 

  • Wüthrich B, Ott F (1969) Berufsasthma durch Proteasen in der Waschmittelindustrie. Schweiz Med Wochenschr 99:1584–1586

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu Z, Zheng T, Homer RH, Kim Y-K, Chen NY, Cohn L, Hamid Q, Elias (2004) Acidic mammalian chitinase in asthmatic Th1 inflammation and IL-13 pathway activation. Science 304:1678–1682

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xaver Baur.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Baur, X. Enzymes as occupational and environmental respiratory sensitisers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 78, 279–286 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-004-0590-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-004-0590-6

Keywords

Navigation