title: An investigation of human immune response to perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) pollen cytochrome c (Lol p X).
abstract: Cytochrome c (Lol p X) was purified from the pollen of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). It was used in a sensitive double-antibody radioimmunoassay to determine specific IgG and IgE antibody (Ab) levels in the sera of grass-allergic human subjects and the relationship between immune responsiveness and HLA type. A total of 139 subjects were studied, including 63 subjects treated by grass immunotherapy and 76 untreated subjects. The sera of only four subjects were found to contain anticytochrome c IgG Ab; there was no evidence of cytochrome c-specific IgE Ab in any of these patients. Based on these data, we conclude that the prevalence of IgE and IgG Ab responses to this protein is low. Because of the small number of responders, it was not possible to demonstrate a significant association between any HLA-D specificity and immune responsiveness to ryegrass cytochrome c.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D008129:Lolium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011058:Pollen / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D003574:Cytochrome c Group; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010940:Plant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E