THE RUBBER ELONGATION-FACTOR OF RUBBER TREES (HEVEA-BRASILIENSIS) IS THE MAJOR ALLERGEN IN LATEX

Background: Allergy to latex-containing articles is becoming more and more important because it can result in unexpected life-threatening an aphylactic reactions in sensitized individuals. Methods: A protein of 58 kd with an isoelectric point of 8.45 was purified from raw latex an d from latex gloves and identified as the major allergen, completely b locking specific IgE antibodies in the serum of latex-sensitized subje cts. The allergen is a noncovalent homotetramer molecule, in which the 14.6 kd monomer was identified, by amino acid composition and sequenc e homologies of tryptic peptides, to be the rubber elongation factor f ound in natural latex of the Malaysian rubber tree. Results: Competiti ve immunoinhibition tests showed that the starch powder covering the f inished gloves is the airborne carrier of the allergen, resulting in b ronchial asthma on inhalation. The purified allergen can induce allerg ic reactions in the nanogram range. Conclusion: The identification of the allergen (Hev b I) may help to eliminate it during the production of latex-based articles in the future.