Plant Defense-related Proteins Eluting from Latex Gloves and Ammoniated Latex: Potential Latex Allergens

摘要

Hypenensitivity reactions caused by latex products are ascribed to proteins eluting from the products, but the detailed properties of the responsible proteins have not been revealed yet. We have speculated that defense-related proteins biosynthesisedin a rubber tree comprise the major part of the allergens. The aim of this study is to ascertain -whether defense-related proteins are extracted from latex gloves and raw ammoniated latex. Characteristic hydrolytic-enzyme activities of defense-related proteins were used for their detection, and we verified the existence of esterase (EC 3.1.1.1), chitinase (EC 3.2.1.14), lysozyme (EC 3.2.1.17) and beta-1,3-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.6) in all the latex extracts. The enzymes other than esterase were similar to reported latex allergens in heat stability and molecular weights. These results indicate the elution of defense-mlated proteins from latex products and their potential participation in latex allergy.