RESPONSES OF MONKEYS WITH POLLINOSIS TO 2 MAJOR ALLERGENS OF JAPANESECEDAR POLLEN

We examined the responses of two Japanese monkeys with pollinosis to t wo major allergens (Cryj 1 and Cryj 2) of Japanese cedar pollen. The t wo monkeys (A and B) had specific IgE antibodies to the allergens and showed a strong positive reaction to both of them in the intradermal t est. In the histamine release test with peripheral blood mononuclear c ells (PBMC), monkey A showed a typical pattern similar to that seen in human patients, while monkey B released a low level of histamine. The proliferative response of PBMC to both allergens in monkey A was weak , but was typical in monkey B. From clinical as well as immunological points of view these monkeys may be a suitable animal model for Japane se cedar pollinosis in humans.