title: Immunological differences in the global release of the major cat allergen Fel d 1 are influenced by sex and behaviour.
abstract: The biological function of Fel d 1, the major cat allergen released in the environment, is still unclear despite studies suggesting a putative role in chemical communication. Structural and immunological polymorphisms of Fel d 1 have been described. This study examined how Fel d 1 immunological polymorphism may have a physiological origin by estimating a potential relationship with the sex of cats and cat-human interactions. Samples from bath washes of 21 cats were screened to study antibody binding to Fel d 1 using an ELISA. Personality and Tolerance Handling scores were used to assess the behaviour of the cats. In the washes, Fel d 1 concentrations were significantly lower in females than in males (P<0.05). Slopes from the ELISA dose-dependent curves varied among the cats: males secreted Fel d 1 variants with higher antibody recognition than females (P<0.01). Females that were aggressive and difficult to handle displayed a diminished slope value, and therefore a weaker Fel d 1 immunoreactivity in global washes, compared to females that were sociable (P=0.09) and easy to handle (P=0.07). This study shows a variable immunological polymorphism of Fel d 1 within a cat population, particularly between males and females, and this polymorphism appears to be related to cat-human interactions.
authors: IRSEA (Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology), Le Rieu Neuf, St. Saturnin d'Apt, France.
authors: Cécile
authors: C
authors: Bienboire-Frosini
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Cozzi
authors: Céline
authors: C
authors: Lafont-Lecuelle
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Vervloet
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Ronin
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Pageat
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D002415:Cats / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006023:Glycoproteins; C059296:Fel d 1 protein, Felis domesticus