High prevalence of sensitization to cat allergen among Japanese children with asthma, living without cats

Abstract

Sensitization to cat allergen is common among young asthmatic patients in Japan, even among patients who do not keep cats. Use of CAP and the chimeric enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay allows accurate diagnosis of cat allergy and quantification of specific IgE antibody levels.

Formation of Disulfide Bonds and Homodimers of the Major Cat Allergen Fel d 1 Equivalent to the Natural Allergen by Expression in Escherichia coli

“…chain 1 and chain 2, respectively) encoded by separate genes (22,27). Chain 1 shares limited sequence homology with the rabbit uteroglobulin/human Clara cell 10-kDa protein (28,29), and the mature natural Fel d 1 (nFel d 1) 1 has been associated with gelatin-and fibronectin-degrading activity (30). Furthermore, three interchain disulfide bonds linking the two peptides in native Fel d 1 have been identified, i.e.…”

“…Exposure to airborne particles derived from household cats (Felis domesticus) is a common cause of IgE-mediated allergy in Europe and elsewhere (1)(2)(3). The severity of symptoms range from relatively mild rhinitis and conjunctivitis to potentially life-threatening asthmatic exacerbation.…”

IgE reactivity of tandem repeats derived from cockroach allergen, Bla g 1

“…The assay was quantitated using wells coated with anti-Der p 2 mAb aDpx and a chimeric mouse/human IgE anti-(Der p 2) Ig (named 2B12-IgE) to form a control curve [20]. Values for IgE anti-(Bla g 1) were interpolated from the 2B12-IgE control curve [19]. Data were analyzed by linear regression.…”

“…Plates were washed and incubated with serum samples (diluted 1 : 2 and 1 : 10). Bound IgE was detected using biotinylated goat anti-human IgE, followed by streptavidin-peroxidase and a colorimetric substrate [19]. The assay was quantitated using wells coated with anti-Der p 2 mAb aDpx and a chimeric mouse/human IgE anti-(Der p 2) Ig (named 2B12-IgE) to form a control curve [20].…”

“…IgE antibody binding to affinity purified rBla g 1 expressed in Pichia (methanol induced) and to natural Bla g 1 was measured by a two-site ELISA as described previously [19]. Microtiter plates were coated overnight with 1 lg per well of mAb 10A6 and incubated with 100 lL (2 UAEmL )1 ) of natural or recombinant Bla g 1 for 1 h. The natural Bla g 1 was a standard prepared from a Blattella germanica frass extract and used for ELISA that contains 10 UAEmL )1 of Bla g 1 (INDOOR Biotechnologies, Inc., Lot #2445).…”