title: Immunochemical and physicochemical characterization of commercial Alternaria extracts: a model for standardization of mold allergen extracts.
abstract: To develop a model for mold allergen extract standardization, we studied eight commercial Alternaria extracts from various suppliers by a variety of immunochemical and physicochemical techniques, including measurement of Alt-I, a purified allergenic fraction of Alternaria. Wide variations were noted in the allergenic and antigenic potencies of these extracts. Estimates of Alt-I content measured by Alt-I RAST inhibition and by radioimmunoassay correlated significantly (p less than 0.05), but Alt-I activity by either method could not be correlated with allergenic potency as measured by RAST inhibiton using solid-phase Alternaria. Each test extract produced unique and differing patterns of Coomassie blue-stained bands in isoelectrofocusing gels and in crossed immunoelectrophoresis gels using rabbit antibodies to Alternaria. The optimal method for mold allergen standardization involves a combination of RAST inhibiton, isoelectrofocusing, and crossed immunoelectrophoresis techniques, and, if possible, quantitation of individual allergens.
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards*; D000528:Alternaria / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D007123:Immunoelectrophoresis, Two-Dimensional; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D003904:Mitosporic Fungi / Q000276:immunology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011817:Rabbits; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens