title: Polymerization of mixtures of grass allergens.
abstract: Mixed grass pollen allergens were precipitated from crude grass extract by 90% saturation with ammonium sulfate. The precipitate was dissolved and polymerized with glutaraldehyde. Polymerized allergens with a molecular weight range of 200,000 to 4,000,000 were isolated. The resultant grass allergen polymers had reduced allergenicity but were capable of absorbing out IgG 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.
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D000941:Antigens; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D000939:Epitopes; D005976:Glutaral; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010636:Phenols; D006109:Poaceae / Q000276:immunology*; D011058:Pollen; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000941:Antigens; D000939:Epitopes; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010636:Phenols; D011108:Polymers; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D005976:Glutaral