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Published on: June 4, 2017
Allergen concentration in natural rubber latex
H-Y Yeang1, R G Hamilton, D I Bernstein
1Biotechnology and Strategic Research Unit, Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia, Malaysian Rubber Board, Malaysia.
Summary
Latex serum, used for allergy diagnosis, contains imbalanced allergen levels, particularly high Hevea brasiliensis 6 (Hev b 6). This imbalance may affect diagnostic accuracy for latex allergy.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
- Allergology
Background:
- Hevea brasiliensis latex serum is a standard reference antigen for diagnosing latex allergy.
- It contains a comprehensive range of latex allergens crucial for in vivo and in vitro diagnostic tests.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the concentrations of significant allergens within latex serum.
- To evaluate the suitability of latex serum as an antigen source for latex allergy diagnosis and immunotherapy.
Main Methods:
- Latex serum was extracted using freeze-thawing or glycerination methods.
- Allergen concentrations were determined using two-site immunoenzymetric assays.
- Messenger RNA (mRNA) transcript abundance was estimated via Expressed Sequence Tags (EST) library analysis.
Main Results:
- Allergens Hev b 1-7 and Hev b 13 were detected in latex serum, with Hev b 6 present at significantly higher concentrations (up to 1000 times more than others).
- Allergen levels correlated with mRNA transcript abundance.
- Using latex serum as an antigen may skew diagnostic results towards Hev b 6 sensitization and potentially miss IgE reactivity to low-concentration allergens.
Conclusions:
- Whole latex serum exhibits a significant imbalance in its constituent allergen concentrations.
- This imbalance suggests that using whole latex serum as an antigen source may not be optimal for accurate latex allergy diagnostics and immunotherapy.
