ONE OF THE RUBBER LATEX ALLERGENS IS A LYSOZYME

Background: Type I hypersensitivity reactions caused by latex products are ascribed to proteins eluted from them, bur little is known about the properties of these allergenic proteins. The reason for the cross- reaction between rubber latex and fruits is also not known. We have sp eculated that a series of defense-related proteins in plants is a caus e of latex allergy and the cross-reaction. Objective: To verify our hy pothesis, we selected a lysozyme as a representative defense-related p rotein and examined its relationship to latex allergy. Methods: Lysozy mes eluted from latex gloves were detected with a cell-suspension clea ring test. A chromatographically separated lysozyme was investigated f or its physicochemical and enzymatic properties and allergenicity. Res ults: Lysozyme activity was detected in extracts from 12 ammoniated la ter and latex gloves. We separated a lysozyme (27 kd; isoelectric poin t, 9.5) using cation-exchange and gel filtration chromatography. This lysozyme was enzymatically very similar to fruit lysozymes and was dem onstrated to be an allergen. Conclusions: One of the rubber later alle rgens is a lysozyme that has similarities to fruit lysozymes. This sug gests the relevance of defense-related proteins to latex allergy and t he cross-reaction.