title: Characterization of allergenic components in sap extract from the weeping fig (Ficus benjamina).
abstract: The allergen composition of crude extract from sap (latex) of the weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) was investigated by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. The allergenic components were detected by sera from 11 occupationally exposed plant keepers, of whom 7 were non-atopic, and from 9 non-occupationally exposed atopic patients with a positive radio-allergosorbent test to weeping fig. The allergen-antibody complexes were visualized by rabbit anti-IgE and beta-galactosidase-labelled sheep anti-rabbit IgG, using a chromogenic insoluble substrate. A total of 11 allergenic components were identified. Three of them were found to be major allergenic components, identified by more than 50% of the investigated sera. These 3 IgE-binding components had molecular weights of approximately 29,000, 28,000 and 25,000 daltons, respectively. The major allergenic components were denatured by heat in the temperature range of 60-90 degrees C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: I G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Axelsson
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zetterström
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000209:etiology; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007073:Immunoglobulin E