Plant defense–related enzymes as latex antigens,☆☆,,★★,

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Abstract

Background: Latex allergy is an increasing hazard to people who frequently come into contact with latex products. Of interest concerning this immediate-type allergy is the cross-reactivity to various vegetable foods and pollen. Despite its high prevalence, no adequate explanation has been provided for the cross-reactive antigens. Objective: We have hypothesized that a series of plant defense–related proteins act as latex allergens, as well as vegetable food allergens. To evaluate this hypothesis, hydrolytic enzymes that are very likely to take on defensive roles in rubber trees were examined for their antigenicity. Methods: By applying chromatographic procedures, defense-related enzymes were separated from nonammoniated latex (NAL). Their antigenicity was examined by immunoblotting and ELISA with sera containing IgE antibodies to crude latex proteins. Results: Three kinds of hydrolytic enzymes (basic β-1,3-glucanases [35, 36.5, and 38 kd], a basic chitinase/lysozyme [29.5 kd], and an acidic esterase [44 kd]) were separated from NAL. They were recognized by IgE antibodies from a significant number of patients allergic to latex. The basic β-1,3-glucanases and the acidic esterase were also strongly recognized by IgE antibodies from several atopic subjects who were allergic to various vegetable foods rather than latex products. Conclusion: It was ascertained that the three defense-related enzymes separated from NAL constituted part of the latex antigens. Taking together the well-known serologic or immunologic relationships and amino acid sequence similarities of defense-related proteins coming from phylogenetically distant plant species, we can suspect their universal antigenicity and cross-reactivity. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1998;101:379-85.)

Section snippets

Sera

Sera from patients allergic to latex (sera nos. 1 to 15) were provided by PlasmaLab International (Everett, Wash.) and local hospitals in Japan. These patients had been diagnosed with latex allergy based on their clinical histories and positive IgE responses to crude latex proteins, which had been determined by a RAST. The sera from allergic subjects who had IgE antibodies to the crude latex proteins but did not claim definite subjective symptoms to latex products were classified as sera from

Separation and characterization of defense-related enzymes

The basic proteins that had not been adsorbed on an anion-exchange resin at pH 10.5 showed multiple bands on a native PAGE gel after silver staining. However, almost all of them were also detected on a zymogram for β-1,3-glucanase activity (data not shown). This indicated that the enzyme fraction was composed of multiple β-1,3-glucanase isoenzymes. When this enzyme fraction was analyzed by SDS-PAGE, three protein bands at 35, 36.5, and 38 kd were detected. Likewise, three broad peaks were

Discussion

In our continuing research on the relevance of plant defense–related proteins to latex allergy and the accompanying cross-reactivity,13, 19, 20, 26 the responsibilities of defense-related enzymes in NAL were investigated in this study. By combining several chromatographic procedures, we obtained three kinds of defense-related enzymes with sufficient purity for their antigenicity examination. Unfortunately, the number of the atopic subjects' sera used is too small to draw a definitive conclusion

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    From aDivision of Medical Devices, National Institute of Health Sciences, Tokyo; bNiigata College of Pharmacy, Niigata; cNational Children's Hospital, Tokyo; and dUrafune Hospital, Yokohama City University, Yokohama.

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    Supported in part by a grant from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan.

    The views stated in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan.

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    Reprint requests: Takeshi Yagami, MSc, Division of Medical Devices, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kamiyoga 1-18-1, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158, Japan.

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