MELITTIN - ALLERGEN OF HONEYBEE VENOM

[摘要] The presence of serum Ig[immunoglobulin]E antibodies to melittin was tested by the radioallergosorbent test (RAST). Melittin, the principal protein of honeybee venom, was isolated by gel filtration on sephadex G-75 and covalently bound to CNBr-activated microcrystalline cellulose. The melittin preparation was homogenous by immunoelectrophoresis with the use of rabbit antiserum to whole honeybee venom and by polyacrylamide electrophoresis in gels containing 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate. Elevated serum IgE antibodies to melittin (3 times greater than binding by normal sera) were found in 7 of 24 honeybee venom-sensitive persons and in 5 of 20 nonsensitive beekeepers. In 1 venom-sensitive patient a particularly high titer of IgE antibody was found. The reaction between solid-phase melittin and IgE antibody could be inhibited by fluid-phase melittin but not by phospholipase A (PLA). The reaction of IgE antibody with solid-phase PLA was inhibited by PLA but not by melittin. In passive transfer skin tests with the sensitive patient''s serum, positive wheal-and-flare reactions were obtained in 3 nonallergic recipients following melittin challenge; appropriate controls were negative. Melittin is apparently an allergen in some honeybee venom-sensitive patients and in an occasional patient melittin may be a major allergen.