title: Melittin: an allergen of honeybee venom.
abstract: The presence of serum IgE 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 cyanogen bromide-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 (three 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 one 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). Similarly, 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. These results indicate that melittin is an allergen in some honeybee venom-sensitive patients and in an occasional patient melittin may be a major allergen.
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001516:Bees / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D008555:Melitten / Q000276:immunology*; D010740:Phospholipases / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests; D014688:Venoms / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000906:Antibodies; D014688:Venoms; D008555:Melitten; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D010740:Phospholipases