Sakae Inouye

Identification of the second major allergen of Japanese cedar pollen

We isolated and characterized the second major allergen (Cry j II) from Japanese cedar pollen. We found that most patients with this pollinosis had IgE antibody to this protein in addition to IgE antibody to Cry j I; however, some sera reacted only with Cry j I or Cry j IL IgE‐ELISA inhibition studies revealed that Cry j I and Cry j II had no cross‐allergenicity. Cry j II did not react with anti‐Cry j I monoclonal antibodies. In SDS‐PAGE under a non‐reducing condition. Cry j II showed a band at the 37 kDa position, compared with the 45–50 kDa bands of Cry j I. N‐terminal amino acid sequence of Cry j II was completely different from that oi Cry j I.

Food allergy to gelatin in children with systemic immediate-type reactions, including anaphylaxis, to vaccines☆☆☆★

BACKGROUND Anaphylaxis to measles-mumps-rubella vaccines has been reported. We have suspected that most such reactions are caused by gelatin contained in the vaccines. OBJECTIVE To confirm the relation between systemic allergic reactions to vaccines and the presence of anti-gelatin IgE, we measured anti-gelatin IgE in children who demonstrated allergy to gelatin-containing vaccines. Furthermore, to clarify the relation between allergic reactions to gelatin in vaccines and foods, we surveyed the occurrence of allergic reactions to gelatin-containing foods in the same children. METHODS Serum samples were taken from 26 children who had systemic immediate-type reactions, including anaphylactic shock, to vaccines and the same number of children without allergic reactions. Specific IgE to gelatin in these samples was measured. We then surveyed whether these children had allergic reactions to gelatin-containing foods before and after vaccination. RESULTS Twenty-four of the 26 children with allergic reactions to vaccines had anti-gelatin IgE ranging from 1.2 to 250 Ua/ml. Seven had allergic reactions on ingestion of gelatin-containing foods. Of these, two had reactions before vaccination, and five had reactions after vaccination. All the control children without allergic reactions to vaccines had no anti-gelatin IgE. CONCLUSION We reconfirmed a strong relationship between systemic immediate-type allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, to vaccines and the presence of specific IgE to gelatin. Moreover, some of the children also had allergic reactions to food gelatin before or after vaccination.

Surveillance of Viral Gastroenteritis in Japan: Pediatric Cases and Outbreak Incidents

Abstract Surveillance results from pediatric cases and outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis in Japan are presented. In winter, both small round structured virus (SRSV, or Norwalk-like viruses) and rotavirus were detected from infants with gastroenteritis; however, in recent years, the prevailing time of SRSV infection has preceded that of rotavirus infection. Most nonbacterial gastroenteritis outbreaks were related to SRSV infection, and >60% of the outbreaks were caused by contaminated food. In small-sized outbreaks, raw oysters were the primary source of transmission. In large-sized outbreaks, school lunches and catered meals that were served at schools, banquet halls, and hospitals were most often implicated in the transmission of foodborne gastroenteritis.

Measurement of allergens associated with dust mite allergy. II. Concentrations of airborne mite allergens (Der I and Der II) in the house.

Assays of mite allergens (Der p I, Der f I and Der II) in the air of houses became feasible with the use of a low-noise air sampler and a sensitive radioimmunoassay described previously. The levels of the airborne allergens Der I (Der p I + Der f I) and Der II in the living room of 10 houses during usual domestic life were very low, 29.5 and 6.3 pg/m3, respectively, with a Der I: Der II ratio of 4.7:1. At the time of bedmaking, they greatly increased, about 1,000-fold, to 30,900 and 12,600 pg/m3, respectively, with a Der I: Der II ratio of 2.5:1. The amounts of Der I and Der II in the floor dust of the living room were 2,040 and 2,690 ng/g of fine dust, respectively, with a Der I: Der II ratio of 0.8:1. Der I seemed more prone to become airborne than Der II.

IgE antibody to gelatin in children with immediate-type reactions to measles and mumps vaccines

Many cases of anaphylactic reactions, to measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines have been reported. ~ Anaphylaxis to the vaccines has been suggested to be caused by the allergy to egg proteins in the vaccines.1 However, this immediate allergic reaction after M M R vaccines has also been described in children who tolerated eggs. 2 This reaction might be due not only to egg proteins but also to some other vaccine constituents. Recently, Kelso et al? reported that a child who had anaphylaxis to M M R vaccine had IgE antibody to gelatin detected by an immunoblott ing method, and they concluded that this anaphylaxis was caused by the gelatin included in the vaccine. In this study to elucidate the relationship between the gelatin in the vaccines and the immediate-type reactions, including anaphylaxis, we measured anti-gelatin IgE antibody by the CAP system (Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden) in the sera of 11 vaccine recipients with immediate-type reactions and in the sera of 24 vaccine recipients with nonimmediatetype reactions associated with measles and mumps vaccines.

Identification of the first major allergen of a squid (Todarodes pacificus)

BACKGROUND In Japan, squid is an important seafood, and some patients with food allergies are sensitive to squid. There has been no report, however, describing the major allergens of squid. OBJECTIVE To characterize squid allergens, we isolated a major allergen from the Pacific flying squid (Todarodes pacificus) and compared it with a major allergen from a shrimp (Penaeus orientalis). METHODS The major squid and shrimp allergens were isolated by column chromatography on diethylaminoethyl-Sepharose (Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden), hydroxylapatite, and Sephacryl S-300 (Pharmacia). The IgE reactivity of the isolated allergens was assessed by immunoblotting. The cross-reactivity between the squid and shrimp allergens was examined by use of mouse polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to the major allergens. Amino acid sequence analyses of the isolated allergens were done. RESULTS The isolated squid allergen is a 38 kd, heat-stable protein. IgE antibody binding to the purified squid allergen was demonstrated by immunoblotting. Cross-reactivity between major squid and shrimp allergens was demonstrated with sera from patients allergic to squid or shrimp or with allergen-specific monoclonal antibodies. The amino acid sequence analysis of the major squid allergen showed a marked homology with tropomyosin from blood fluke planorbid (Biomphalaria glabrata), which is a common vector snail of Schistosoma mansoni. CONCLUSION This 38 kd protein is a major allergen of the squid, Todarodes pacificus, and is believed to be squid muscle protein tropomyosin. We named it Tod p 1 according to International Union of Immunological Societies allergen nomenclature regulation.

Gelatin-specific humoral and cellular immune responses in children with immediate- and nonimmediate-type reactions to live measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccines ☆ ☆☆ ★

BACKGROUND This study was designed to investigate the development of both cellular and humoral immune responses to gelatin in patients with vaccine-related immediate and nonimmediate reactions. Our purpose was to define the nature of the responses in the different clinical states. METHODS Six patients with immediate reactions and 21 patients with nonimmediate reactions after inoculation of various live vaccines were studied. Measurement of gelatin-specific IgE was performed in all subjects. Gelatin-specific T-cell responses detected by an in vitro lymphocyte proliferation assay and by an assay for IL-2 responsiveness were investigated to compare the immune response in patients with the two types of reaction. RESULTS All six patients with immediate reactions had IgE responses to gelatin, whereas none of the 21 patients with nonimmediate reactions had any anti-gelatin IgE. All of the six patients with immediate reactions and 17 of the 21 patients with nonimmediate reactions exhibited positive T-lymphocyte responses specific to gelatin. CONCLUSIONS Immediate and nonimmediate reactions are caused by different types of allergy to gelatin, and cell-mediated immunity to gelatin may play an important role in the pathogenesis of nonimmediate reactions.

Sensitivity to two major allergens (Cry j I and Cry j II) in patients with Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollinosis

Background: Japanese cedar (Cryptmeria japonica: CJ) pollinosis is one of the most important allergic diseases in Japan. Recently, the second major allergen (Cry j II) was isolated from CJ pollen. There have been no prevalence studies of sensitivity to Cry j I and Cry j II among a large number of patients with pollinosis.

Systemic immediate-type reactions to gelatin included in Japanese encephalitis vaccines

Three children had systemic immediate-type reactions to Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine which contains gelatin as a stabilizer. We found that all the children had anti-gelatin IgE in their sera. Further, two of the three also had experienced systemic allergic reactions to gelatin-containing foods before the vaccination. We assume that the systemic allergic reactions to JE vaccines might be caused by gelatin in the JE vaccine.

IgE-mediated systemic reactions to gelatin included in the varicella vaccine

and bedding encasements 7 was not sufficient to produce a susta ined beneficial reduc t ion in mi te al lergen levels. This could be re la ted to the pers is tence of reservoirs such as mat t ress bases, because mites can disperse f rom one locat ion to ano the r within a shor t period. To rat ional ize al lergen avoidance, advice should be given concerning mat t ress bases. Box springs, the usual mattress bases in the U n i t e d States, can be encased. If encasing does not seem feasible, s lat ted bases are an al ternative.