Comparison of immune reactivity to polyvalent monomeric and polymeric ragweed antigens

Self Cite

This report describes the preparation of individual tree pollen allergen polymers in contrast to our previous description of the polymerization of a mixture of tree pollens. These individual polymers may be used for immunotherapy as indicated by the IgE-mediated reactivity of each patient. A modified chromatographic fractionation process was used which results in tree polymers with skin reactivity 1,000- to 10,000-fold less from monomers and with a defined lower molecular weight limit. The modified preparative methodology results in polymer preparations as safe but with greater ease of production than polymers prepared with previous methodologies.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polymerization of Individual Species of Tree Pollen Allergens

Patterson¹,

Suszko²,

Grammer

1984

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“…This successful result is attribut able to two reasons: the first is that coupling of a heterologous antigenic enzyme with a nonimmunogenic homologous protein prov ides a way to eliminate or suppress the im mune response and the second is that pro tection of the catalytic site with the corre sponding substrate, L-asparagine in this case, serves to keep the enzyme activity in the process of glutaraldehyde treatment. Formaldehyde or glutaraldehyde polymeri zation has been done on a variety of pollen proteins to reduce their allergenic activities [11,14,18,20],…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immunological Studies on Modified Enzymes

Yagura¹,

Kamisaki²,

Wada³

et al. 1981

For the successful administration of exogenous proteins and enzymes for therapeutic purposes, abrogation or modifications of antigenicity and immunogenicity of the protein must be achieved without substantial loss of the biological activity necessary for therapeutic purposes. In order to try this, a model experiment was carried out in the present study. Escherichia coli L-asparaginase, whose chemical properties have been well defined and which is used for the treatment of acute lymphocytic leukemia and malignant lymphomas, was modified by copolymerization with isologous albumin, and alterations of its immunogenicity were examined in mice. The results demonstrated that the immunogenicity of the modified L-asparaginase was remarkably reduced and satisfactory enzyme activity was preserved.

“…The gluteraldehyde-polymerized ragweed extract (PRW; kindly supplied by Allergy Laboratories of Ohio, Columbus, Ohio, USA) was made from a starting aqueous ragweed monomer extract con taining antigen 200 /rg antigen E (AgE)/mI, using the method de scribed by Patterson et al [7]. Serial 10-fold dilutions were made for treatment solutions.…”

Section: Antigensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local Intranasal Immunotherapy with High-Dose Polymerized Ragweed Extract

Georgitis

Nickelsen

Wypych

et al. 1986

Thirty-one ragweed-allergic patients received preseasonal local intranasal immunotherapy (LNIT) with high doses of gluteraldehyde-polymerized ragweed extract (average total dose 544 μgantigen E). Minimal side effects were reported during treatment and did not interfere with the dosing schedule. During the ragweed pollen season, LNIT-treated patients had lower symptom scores for sneezing, rhinorrhea and nasal congestion than a comparable group of untreated ragweed-allergic patients. There was no difference in ragweed-induced eye symptoms between the two groups. Secretory ragweed-specific IgA and IgG rose following LNIT treatment. Absolute antibody titers and changes in titers did not correlate with clinical improvement. LNIT with the polymerized ragweed did not block the seasonal rise in serum ragweed-specific IgE. These results suggest that LNIT with high-dose polymerized ragweed extract is a safe, simple and effective form of immunotherapy.