One of the rubber latex allergens is a lysozyme.
BACKGROUND
Type I hypersensitivity reactions caused by latex products are ascribed to proteins eluted from them, but little is known about the properties of these allergenic proteins. The reason for the cross-reaction between rubber latex and fruits is also not known. We have speculated that a series of defense-related proteins in plants is a cause of latex allergy and the cross reaction.


OBJECTIVE
To verify our hypothesis, we selected a lysozyme as a representative defense-related protein and examined its relationship to latex allergy.


METHODS
Lysozymes eluted from latex gloves were detected with a cell-suspension clearing test. A chromatographically separated lysozyme was investigated for its physicochemical and enzymatic properties and allergenicity.


RESULTS
Lysozyme activity was detected in extracts from ammoniated latex and latex gloves. We separated a lysozyme (27 kd; isoelectric point, 9.5) using cation-exchange and gel filtration chromatography. This lysozyme was enzymatically very similar to fruit lysozymes and was demonstrated to be an allergen.


CONCLUSIONS
One of the rubber latex allergens is a lysozyme that has similarities to fruit lysozymes. This suggests the relevance of defense-related proteins to latex allergy and the cross reaction.
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D003429:Cross Reactions; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000201:enzymology; D017575:Gloves, Protective / Q000009:adverse effects; D005932:Gloves, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007526:Isoelectric Point; D007840:Latex / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009113:Muramidase / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012408:Rubber
D000485:Allergens; D007840:Latex; D012408:Rubber; D009113:Muramidase