IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF THE ALLERGENIC PROTEINS IN THE POLLEN OF CRYPTOMERIA-JAPONICA

Applying an immunocytochemical method, a localization of the protein C ry j I in the Cryptomeria japonica pollen, which is the major allergen responsible for Japanese cedar pollinosis, is investigated with the m onoclonal and polyclonal antibodies produced from the protein. The pro tein that reacts to the polyclonal antibody localizes on the sexine, n exine, between nexine and intine layers, orbicles, cell wall of a gene rative cell, Golgi body and Golgi vesicles. The allergenic protein con tained in the exine and orbicles of Japanese cedar pollen can diffuse or dissolve easily from there into the mucus covering of the eye and n ose, causing a response in less than 1 min after exposure. Since the o rbicles have a diameter of about 430 nm, they can pass easily through the pores of most protective masks to reach the sensitive tissues of t he patient. The proteins react to the monoclonal antibodies (J1BO1 and J1BO7) and localize on the Golgi body, sexine, nexine and orbicles (b ut not between the nexine and intine layers), and on the generative ce ll wall. In the young pollen grain, numerous allergenic protein partic les contained in the orbicles and sexine layer, but there is only a sm all amount of the protein between the nexine and intine layers, since the intine layer is not yet complete at this stage. More will be accum ulated there during developmental maturation. The allergenic protein i s also found on the tapetal materials remaining in the young anther. S ince the materials forming the exine layer and orbicles come from tape tal tissue, it is assumed that some of the allergenic protein is produ ced in the tapetum and localized in the orbicles and pollen wall durin g maturation, and that the rest of the allergenic protein is produced in the Golgi body in the mature pollen grain.