Different allergenic activity of grass pollen allergens revealed by skin testing.
BACKGROUND
Grass pollen is one of the most important allergen sources. The aim of this study was to compare the in vivo allergenic activity of two recently characterized major grass pollen allergens, Phl p 4 and Phl p 13, with three established major grass pollen allergens, Phl p 1, Phl p 2 and Phl p 5 as a basis for the formulation of a grass pollen allergy vaccine based on purified allergens.


METHODS
Eighty-two grass pollen allergic patients were skin prick tested with serial dilutions of approximately equimolar concentrations of the purified allergens in a double-blind study.


RESULTS
Phl p 4 and Phl p 13 were identified as major grass pollen allergens according to IgE binding frequency (Phl p 4: 85%; Phl p 13: 56%), but exhibited a five to nine-fold lower allergenic skin reactivity compared to Phl p 1, Phl p 2 or Phl p 5.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that Phl p 4 and Phl p 13 are not essential components for a therapeutic grass pollen vaccine and underpin the importance of evaluating the in vivo allergenic activity of individual allergens for the formulation of therapeutic vaccines based on purified allergens.
Westritschnig
K
K
Medical University of Vienna, Austria. Kerstin.westritschnig@gmx.at
Horak
F
F
Swoboda
I
I
Balic
N
N
Spitzauer
S
S
Kundi
M
M
Fiebig
H
H
Suck
R
R
Cromwell
O
O
Valenta
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D008297:Male; D031784:Phleum / Q000276:immunology*; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D012882:Skin Tests
D000485:Allergens; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007073:Immunoglobulin E