title: A guinea pig model of hypersensitivity to allergenic fractions of natural rubber latex.
abstract: Allergy to natural rubber latex is a growing medical problem with life-threatening aspects. The aim of this study was to learn if guinea pigs could serve as a suitable model for immediate-type hypersensitivity to latex. Guinea pigs were immunized either with whole non-ammoniated latex extract, or with one of nine SDS-PAGE-separated components. Other animals were injected with electroeluted latex components localized on gel at 14, 24 and a cluster around 45 kD. Before and after immunization, sera from the animals were examined by ELISA, immunoblots, passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) and passive systemic anaphylaxis. Latex-specific antibodies were detected by ELISA and immunoblots in sera from all immunized animals. PCA assays showed that the guinea pigs had homocytotropic antibodies dilutable to 1:250. PCA was abolished when sera from animals immunized with allergens in alum were heated at 56 degrees C for 30 min indicating the antibodies were of the E isotype. Passive systemic anaphylaxis was induced in 4 of 10 guinea pigs. The results show that guinea pigs are capable of making antibodies to latex protein components that mediate dermal and systemic anaphylaxis, paralleling the spectrum of clinical and laboratory findings of humans with immediate-type clinical latex hypersensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Cleveland State University, Section of Allergy and Immunology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aamir
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Safadi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mandelik
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cornish
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Melton
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Pien
authors.forename: W O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Battisto
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000209:etiology; D000818:Animals; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007840:Latex / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D010323:Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis / Q000276:immunology; D012408:Rubber / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007840:Latex; D012408:Rubber