Surgical Latex Glove Allergy: Characterization of Rubber Protein Allergens by Immunoblotting

Abstract

Immunoblot analysis employing IgE antibodies derived from sera of 3 physicians and 2 nurses allergic to surgical latex gloves, disclosed 10 allergens in natural rubber sap. Nine of the 10 allergens were detected in ammoniated natural rubber latex, but only 4 allergens in a latex glove extract. The allergenic proteins had apparent molecular weights ranging from 14 to 70 kD. Allergens with molecular weights of 14 and 21 kD showed the most intense immunoblot reactions suggesting that these proteins could be the major allergens in the natural rubber. An 11-kD protein and a 26-kD protein were only seen in the glove extract, indicating that they could be modified rubber proteins formed during glove manufacture.

Occupational asthma caused by natural rubber latex

“…Immunoelectrophoretic studies conducted by several groups of investigators have identified IgE-binding proteins with molecular weights ranging 2-100 kDa in raw NRL and eluates from NRL finished products [9,[27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34] results. Furthermore, discrepancies may have resulted from differences in the immune sera (e.g.…”

Natural rubber latex aeroallergen exposure in rubber plantation workers and glove manufacturers in Thailand and health care workers in a UK hospital

“…Since latex is a complex mixture of chemicals there is evidence that variations in the mixture may change the allergenicity. Processing of latex has been shown to change its protein pro®le both quantitatively and qualitatively (Alenius et al, 1991;Slater and Chhabra, 1992). Furthermore, patients with history of latex allergy have shown dierent responses to dierent glove brands (Turjanmaa et al, 1988;Jaeger et al, 1992).…”

“…Various serum analysis techniques, including RAST, have been used to identify speci®c antigenic proteins in natural latex, although the antigens have not been completely characterised. Despite the variability in isolation techniques and antigen source a number of studies show that antigenic proteins with a range of molecular weights of 5±46 kDa (Alenius et al, 1991;Chambeyron et al, 1992;Makinen-Kiljunen et al, 1992). The two major allergens for health care workers are the 4.7 kDa Hev b 6.02 and 14.6 kDa Hev b 1 (Posch et al, 1998).…”

Allergy toHevealatex

“…Ammoniation may unmask epitopes hidden in non-ammoniated latex [15]. Several groups [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] have analysed the molecular weights of allergens in latex (Table 1), but the patterns of reactivity vary greatly between the studies; as well as the large numbers of patterns, the picture is being confused by methodological differences such as the use of reduced and denatured proteins by some groups. No clear relationship has emerged between the type of symptom and allergens, but between allergens and patient group there is a suggestion that the 27-kD peptide in reduced/denatured latex may be the dominant allergen in spina bifida patients [28].…”