title: MALDI-TOF MS analysis of labile Lolium perenne major allergens in mixes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is well known that allergen extracts used for specific therapy of allergic disorders are commonly stored as mixtures, causing an alteration of its stability.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this report is to identify pollen allergens susceptible to degradation during storage of mixtures containing different sources of proteases in the absence of glycerol as a preserving agent.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mixes containing Lolium perenne (Lol p) pollen extract with either Aspergillus fumigatus or Periplaneta americana extracts were prepared and co-incubated for 90 days at 4 degrees C. Samples were taken off at fixed times and comparatively tested by in vitro and in vivo assays with atopic patients. Selected pollinic allergens were subjected to MALDI-TOF MS analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ELISA inhibition evidenced the loss of potency from ryegrass extract, and immunoblotting assays showed the degradation of specific pollinic allergens during storage of mixtures containing protease-rich sources. An in vivo intradermal skin assay confirmed the gradual loss of the biological activity of L. perenne pollen extract co-incubated with non-related protease-rich extracts in comparison with that of the control pollen extract. MALDI-TOF MS analysis allowed us to determine that Lol p 1 and Lol p 5 are susceptible to proteolysis whereas Lol p 4 was found to be resistant to degradation during storage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lol p 1 and Lol p 5 degradation is responsible for the loss of the biological activity of L. perenne pollen extract when co-incubated with protease-rich fungal and cockroach extracts in the same vial for months in the absence of glycerol as a preserving agent. The integrity of these major allergens must be preserved to increase the vaccine stability and to assure efficacy when mixes are used for immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: División Alergia, Hospital de Clínicas Gral. San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Irañeta
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Acosta
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duran
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Apicella
authors.forename: U D
authors.initials: UD
authors.lastname: Orlando
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Seoane
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: V G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Duschak
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D045424:Complex Mixtures / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D004355:Drug Stability; D004356:Drug Storage; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D008129:Lolium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D012882:Skin Tests; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D045424:Complex Mixtures; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010940:Plant Proteins; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases