The Biological Role of Allergy

Platts-Mills, Thomas A.E.

doi:10.1007/978-94-011-6217-3_1

Cited by 10 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 92 publications

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“…These substances result in allergic contact dermatitis, rhinitis, reactive air way disease, anaphylactic reactions and others (Platts-Mills 1987). Contact dermatitis generally accounts for 4 -7% of dermatologic consultations (Mendenhall et al 1978;Wilkinson & Shaw 1998) and may result in permanent disability in some subjects (Menné et al 1982).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Antimicrobial agents, antioxidants, cosmetics, metals, plants, foods, inhalants, insects and organic dyes are generally principal sensitizers and allergens (Platts-Mills 1987). These different chemicals or allergens vary in clinical manifestation when introduced to the body.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These different chemicals or allergens vary in clinical manifestation when introduced to the body. The manifestation could either involve; type I (immediate) hypersensitivity reaction resulting in urticaria, asthma, or diarrhea based on the route of allergen entrance or it could result in chronic eczema of the skin due to type IV hypersensitivity reaction (Platts-Mills 1987).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Even though it is difficult to predict the allergenicity of different chemicals, most allergens that cause contact dermatitis (involving delayed type of hypersensitivity reaction (DTH)) are simple chemicals of low molecular weight, whereas those causing contact urticaria (involving type I hypersensitivity reaction) are large molecules of full antigens (Platts-Mills 1987). Antimicrobial agents, antioxidants, cosmetics, metals, plants, foods, inhalants, insects and organic dyes are generally principal sensitizers and allergens (Platts-Mills 1987).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Skin sensitivity reactions to some allergens in different population groups of Ethiopian subjects

Desalegn

Nishikawa

Kassu

et al. 2007

International Journal of Environmental Health Research

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The prevalence of allergic diseases to a variety of allergens has only been studied in a few countries and it has never been studied in Ethiopia. This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of skin sensitivity reactions to allergens in Ethiopian subjects. A total of 216 subjects were tested with a skin scratch test using five types of allergens and also for total and differential white blood cell counts. Positive reaction to one or more allergens was detected in 49.5% of the subjects, the most prevalent allergen being mite extract. Some 27% showed a positive reaction to multiple allergens. The mean eosinophil count was higher in the subjects reacting to at least one of the allergens compared to those with no reaction (p=0.038). The results demonstrate a high prevalence of allergic reactions to the few allergens tested. Further studies using several allergens are recommended to substantiate this finding.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Skin sensitivity reactions to some allergens in different population groups of Ethiopian subjects

Desalegn

Nishikawa

Kassu

et al. 2007

International Journal of Environmental Health Research

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“…8,9) Platts-Mills postulated that there may be advantages to measuring group II allergens because they are more stable than group I allergens. 9 ) Many monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) against each allergen have been produced for this purpose.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Specific Measurement of a Major Mite Allergen,Der fII, by an Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay System Using Monoclonal Anti-DerII Antibodies

Akagawa

Mori²,

Ando³

et al. 1992

Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry

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An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay system using a monoclonal antibody, 15E11, specific for a major allergen Der f II in house dust mite, was developed. This system detected only Der f II in the presence of Der p II and other allergens. The Der f II contents in several house dust samples significantly correlated with the numbers of the mites in the same house dust samples (n = 14, r = 0.88, p < 0.001). These data showed that this system was useful for specific measurement of Der f II in house dusts.

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The Function of Allergy: Immunological Defense Against Toxins

Profet¹

1991

The Quarterly Review of Biology

143

129

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This paper proposes that the mammalian immune response known as "allergy" evolved as a last line of defense against the extensive array of toxic substances that exist in the environment in the form of secondary plant compounds and venoms. Whereas nonimmunological defenses typically can target only classes of toxins, the immune system is uniquely capable of the fine-tuning required to target selectively the specific molecular configurations of individual toxins. Toxic substances are commonly allergenic. The pharmacological chemicals released by the body's mast cells during an IgE antibody-mediated allergic response typically cause vomiting diarrhea, coughing, tearing, sneezing, or scratching, which help to expel from the body the toxic substance that triggered the response; individuals frequently develop aversions to substances that have triggered such responses. A strong allergic response often includes a decrease in blood pressure, which slows the rate at which toxins circulate to target organs. The immune system identifies as toxic the following kinds of substances: (1) those low-molecular-weight substances that bind covalently to serum proteins (e.g., many plant toxins); (2) nontoxic proteins that act as carriers of toxins with low molecular weights (e.g., plant proteins associated with plant toxins); (3) specific substances of high molecular weight that harmed individuals in ancestral mammalian populations for a span of time that was significant from the standpoint of natural selection (e.g., the toxic proteins of bee venom. Substances that bind covalently to serum proteins generally are acutely toxic, and because many of these substances also bind covalently to the DNA of target cells, they are potentially mutagenic and carcinogenic as well. Thus, by protecting against acute toxicity, allergy may also defend against mutagens and carcinogens. The toxic hypothesis explains the main phenomena of allergy; why IgE-mediated allergies usually occur within minutes of exposure to an allergen and why they are often so severe; why the manifestations of allergy include vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, sneezing, scratching, tearing, and a drop in blood pressure; why covalent binding of low-molecular-weight substances to serum proteins frequently causes allergy; why allergies occur to many foods, pollens, venoms, metals, and drugs; why allergic cross-reactivity occurs to foods and pollen from unrelated botanical families; why allergy appears to be so capricious and variable; and why allergy is more prevalent in industrial societies than it is in foraging societies. This hypothesis also has implications for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of allergy.

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The Biological Role of Allergy

Cited by 10 publications

References 92 publications

Skin sensitivity reactions to some allergens in different population groups of Ethiopian subjects

Skin sensitivity reactions to some allergens in different population groups of Ethiopian subjects

Specific Measurement of a Major Mite Allergen,Der fII, by an Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay System Using Monoclonal Anti-DerII Antibodies

The Function of Allergy: Immunological Defense Against Toxins

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