Immunochemical detection of the occupational allergen, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), in situ.

Diisocyanate chemicals essential to polyurethane production are a well-recognized cause of occupational asthma. The pathogenesis of diisocyanate-induced asthma, including the pathways by which the chemical is taken up and its distribution in exposed tissue, especially the lung, remains unclear. We developed an antiserum with specificity for methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) the most abundantly produced and utilized diisocyanate world-wide, and established its ability to detect MDI in situ. Polyclonal MDI-specific IgG was induced by immunizing rabbits with MDI-conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant, followed by two booster injections with incomplete Freund's adjuvant. The antiserum contains IgG that recognize a variety of different MDI conjugated proteins, but not unconjugated or mock exposed proteins by dot blot analysis. The antiserum further demonstrates specificity for proteins conjugated with MDI, but not other commonly used diisocyanates. Immunochemical studies with cytospun airway cells and formalin-fixed paraffin embedded lung tissue sections from mice intranasally exposed to MDI (as reversibly reactive glutathione conjugates, e.g. GSH-MDI) demonstrated the antiserum's ability to detect MDI in tissue samples. The data demonstrate penetration of MDI into the lower airways, localized deposition in the epithelial region surrounding airways, and uptake by alveolar macrophages. The new immunochemical reagent should be useful for further studies delineating the uptake and tissue distribution of MDI, especially as it relates to adverse health effects from exposure.