Volume 18, Issue 44 (10-2009)
Abstract
Air pollutants are reported to increase the specific IgE response to allergens. Clinical tests and immonoblotting were performed with pollen grains of Spartium junceum. To identify allergens and to determine the effect of air pollutants on the allergenicity of the pollen extracts, the pollen extracts were injected intraperitoneally and intracutaneously to guinea pigs. Injection of the pollen extracts of this species caused positive SPT and an increase in specific IgE antibodies and eosinophyls in animals, compared to those that received buffer, instead of pollen extract. Two IgE-binding bands were observed in immunoblots of pollen extract of this species. The extracts of pollen grains collected from polluted region increased the response of SPT and specific IgE, but there was no sinificatent difference between IgE-binding bands (proteins), suggesting the adjuvant effect of pollutants per se that is, pollutants can increase allergy-related immune responses (including production of specific IgE and eosinophils).
