title: Polymerized tree pollen antigens.
abstract: Aqueous extracts of tree pollen were partially purified and polymerized with methods previously established for preparation of ragweed and grass polymers. The polymerized tree preparations were antigenic as demonstrated by ability to elicit immediate-type skin reactivity in humans and to induce an immune response in rabbits. The polymerized tree antigen was 100- to 10,000-fold less skin reactive than monomer tree antigen in tree pollen-sensitive patients but both preparations had similar antigenicity in rabbits. These results demonstrate that polymerized tree antigens can be prepared and should have the therapeutic potential already demonstrated for polymerized ragweed preparations.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000941:Antigens; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D006801:Humans; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011058:Pollen; D011108:Polymers; D011817:Rabbits; D012882:Skin Tests; D014197:Trees
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D011108:Polymers