Elution of human reagins to ragweed pollen from an immunosorbent, synthesized by coupling the non-dialyzable components of the aqueous extract of the pollen to ethylene maleic anhydride copolymer, with low molecular weight components of the dialysate or of the ultrafiltrate of this extract resulted in the formation of allergen-reagin (A-R) complexes. Evidence for these complexes was inferred from the following observations: (a) intradermal injection of A-R eluates into the skin of normal volunteers produced immediate wheal and flare reactions; (b) when normal skin sites sensitized with allergic sera were challenged with A-R eluates, in dilutions which did not elicit any reactions in non-sensitized sites or in sites sensitized with normal human serum, wheal and flare reactions were obtained; (c) sensitization of normal skin sites with A-R eluates prevented further fixation of additional reagins.
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