Isolation and Characterization <i>in vitro</i> of an Allergen from Plane-Tree <i>(Platanus acerifolia)</i> Pollen

Abstract

A plane-tree pollen allergen was obtained by ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. It is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 22,000. By isoelectro-focusing, two isomers with a high cross-allergenicity were obtained. The results suggest that this fraction is not the only allergen but certainly the most active.

Pollen-Allergen IgE Response in the Inbred Rat

“…This seems unlikely because the suppression is allorestricted. The strain specificity and the non antigen-specific suppression of the IgE anti body response might act at three levels: (1) at the MHC level since immune cells re sponded solely to stimulation in a self-re cognition context [6]; (2) at the cellular lev el, by blocking some step of the cooperation between T cells and IgE B-forming cells, or by inducing nonspecific suppressor cells: in some cases, especially in antitumoral im munity, the injection of CFA is known to induce Ts cell formation [8], and (3) at the B cell level by direct blocking of the expres sion of the B cell repertoire [12], Our results do not allow us to descriminate between these hypotheses. The fact that a suppressive activity can be found in rat sera as in mouse sera, led us to con clude that the model of a nonspecific IgE suppression described by Tung and Katz, can be generalized and might be extended, perhaps, to nonatopic patients.…”

“…Primary IgE response to plane-tree allergen P was induced by immuniz ing lots of 6 rats with 50 ug of allergen P in alum (Perthydral Pasteur) [1]. They were bled 9, 14, 28, 40 and 70 days later and sera were kept at -20 °C until used.…”

“…In this work, we have studied the prima ry IgE response in four different strains of rats, after immunization with the isolated major allergen P from plane-tree pollen [1,2] and thus, high and low responder strains could be defined. After intraperitoneal injections of CFA, the results showed that serum of low-responder strains inhibited the cyclophosphamide-enhanced IgE response.…”

Pollinose au chêne, au platane, au plantain, à l’armoise. Mythe ou réalité ?

“…Dès 1977, des travaux immunologiques ont été réalisés sur le pollen de platane par Anfosso et al à Marseille, qui utilisèrent les techniques de l'époque (chromatographie, isoélectrofocalisation) [21,22]. Elle identifia une glycoprotéine de 22 kDa correspondant à un des allergènes majeurs du platane.…”

Studies on a New Lymphocyte Mitogen from Pollen Aqueous Extract: Induction of Proliferation in Human and Rodent Lymphocytes

“…We have previously characterized a whole aqueous extract (WAE) from plane-tree (Platanus acerifolia) pollen and isolated an allergen called allergen P (AU.P) which bound to human IgE antibodies and re presented 70% of the allergenic activity of WAE when measured by RAST inhibition. This allergen induced IgE antibody synthesis in rats [1,2] and was released between 30 min and 2 h in aqueous medium by extrac tion of dry pollen [Anfosso, Guillard, Charpin, submit ted]. Our preliminary report [3] showed a 'mitogen like' stimulation of rat spleen lymphocytes by planetree aqueous extracts.…”