IgE cross-reactivities against albumins in patients allergic to animals.
BACKGROUND
Type I allergic symptoms and severe asthma in particular are frequently caused by animal hair/dander proteins, among which albumins are possible cross-sensitizing allergenic components.


METHODS
The significance and degree of IgE-cross-reactivities against various albumins were studied in a representative number (n = 200) of patients allergic to animals with hair/dander extracts, purified albumins from different animals, and a recombinant dog albumin fragment expressed in lysogenic Escherichia coli Y1089 and purified as a beta-galactosidase fusion protein.


RESULTS
Despite a high degree of sequence homology among different albumins, a remarkable variability of IgE cross-reactivities was observed, indicating that some patients were sensitized preferentially against certain albumins. Most of the patients allergic to albumins, however, reacted to dog, cat, and horse albumin, which also bound a high percentage of albumin-specific IgE.


CONCLUSIONS
The purified recombinant dog albumin fragment, representing 265 amino acids of the mature protein, bound IgE from all 15 patients allergic to albumin tested suggesting its potential usefulness for diagnosis and perhaps therapy.
Spitzauer
S
S
Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, AKH, University of Vienna, Austria.
Pandjaitan
B
B
Söregi
G
G
Mühl
S
S
Ebner
C
C
Kraft
D
D
Valenta
R
R
Rumpold
H
H
D000418:Albumins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D002415:Cats; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006197:Hair / Q000276:immunology; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012882:Skin Tests; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D000418:Albumins; D000939:Epitopes; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D001616:beta-Galactosidase