POLYMERIZATION OF MIXTURES OF GRASS ALLERGENS

[摘要] Mixed grass pollen allergens [from Bermuda, orchard, timothy, red top and June grasses] were precipitated from crude grass extract by 90% saturation with (NH4)2SO4. The precipitate was dissolved and polymerized with glutaraldehyde. Polymerized allergens with a MW range of 200,000-4,000,000 were isolated. The resultant grass allergen polymers had reduced allergenicity but were capable of absorbing out Ig[immunoglobulin]G antibody from sera of 2 patients treated with crude grass allergens. This alteration of allergenicity was intended to reduce the ability of allergens to react with IgE-sensitized cells rather than to modify or destroy antigenic determinants. Prior exposure of allergens to phenol used as a preservative inhibited the polymerization process probably by blocking combining sites with which glutaraldehyde reacts.