title: Epitope specificity of IgE antibodies to a major allergen (Cry j 1) of Japanese cedar pollen in sera of humans and monkeys with pollinosis.
abstract: Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollinosis has been reported to occur naturally in Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) as well as humans. Using monoclonal antibodies (mAb) specific to Cry j 1, a major allergen in Japanese cedar pollen, we identified five independent epitopes (EP-1 to EP-5) on the molecule. The epitopes recognized by IgE antibodies in the sera of humans and monkeys with the pollinosis were analysed by an IgE enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay inhibition method with these mAb. In human patients, the mAb to EP-1 strongly blocked the binding of IgE antibodies in all patients' sera to Cry j 1. The reaction patterns of IgE antibodies in monkeys, however, varied among the troops of monkeys. In some troops, the mAb to EP-1 showed a blocking pattern similar to that for human patients. In other troops, mAb to EP-4 and EP-5 blocked binding of IgE. These results indicate that some, but not all, monkeys have antibody responses to the major allergen similar to those of humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nigi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yasueda
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagoya
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurimoto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inouye
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D008251:Macaca / Q000276:immunology*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D011489:Protein Denaturation
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D052179:Antigens, Plant; C065290:Cry j I protein, Cryptomeria japonica; D000939:Epitopes; D010940:Plant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E