Murine lymphocyte responses to purified components of rye grass pollen extract

The ability of lymphocytes obtained from mice treated with whole rye grass pollen extract or purified major allergen components (R7--apparent molecular weight 31,000; R14a-apparent molecular weight 11,000) to proliferate in culture on challenge with these allergens has been studied. Whole rye grass pollen extract was found to stimulate responses with lymphocytes from all treated but not non-treated animals, whereas the purified allergens failed to effect proliferation except with cells obtained from animals treated with the homologous allergen. These results accord with previous observations that, of the antigen present in the whole rye grass pollen extract, the components showing greatest immunogenicity in murine systems are not those commonly regarded as being the major allergens in man. The mouse may not thus provide a relevant model of human immune responses to rye grass pollen extracts.