Identification of allergens involved in occupational asthma due to carmine dye.
BACKGROUND
Carmine has been implicated as an etiologic agent of occupational asthma, but the allergens involved have not been yet identified.


OBJECTIVE
To identify the allergens involved in occupational asthma due to carmine dye.


METHODS
An in vitro study based in SDS-PAGE and IgE immunoblotting with carmine and cochineal extracts was performed. Sera from three carmine dye workers diagnosed with occupational asthma induced by carmine dye and from seven nonatopic subjects were used.


RESULTS
Three proteins of around 30, 28, and 17 kD in raw cochineal extract and another protein of 50 kD in the boiled one were demonstrated by SDS-PAGE. Two proteins of around 50 and 28 kD were observed in the carmine extract by the same technique. Specific IgE binding bands at 17 kD in cochineal raw extract, at 50 kD in the boiled one, and at 28 kD in carmine extract were demonstrated by IgE immunoblotting.


CONCLUSIONS
We have identified three allergens of around 17, 28, and 50 kD implicated in occupational asthma of three carmine workers.
Lizaso
M T
MT
Department of Allergy, Hospital Virgen del Camino, Pamplona, Spain.
Moneo
I
I
García
B E
BE
Acero
S
S
Quirce
S
S
Tabar
A I
AI
D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002329:Carmine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology*; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate
D004396:Coloring Agents; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D002329:Carmine