IMMUNOBLOT ANALYSIS OF COMPONENTS OF BARLEY RECOGNIZED BY IGE ANTIBODIES IN SERA FROM PIG FARM-WORKERS

Components of the crude extract of barley, recognized by IgE antibodie s in sera from 132 pig farm-workers in southern Taiwan, were investiga ted by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS- PAGE) and immunoblotting. Among the sera tested, 43 (32.6%) showed IgE reactivity to 15 components of barley with molecular mass ranging fro m 148 000 to 14000 daltons (Da). Heterogeneity in the IgE-binding patt erns of the samples tested was observed. However, the major antigen ap pears to be the component with about 37 kDa, in 32 (74.4%) of the 43 i mmunoblot-positive serum samples. Furthermore, components with about 5 5 and 67 kDa which reacted with 26 (60.5%) and 18 (41.9%) of the posit ive samples, respectively. These might also be considered as important allergens of the flour made from entire seeds of barley. The results suggest that barley may be considered to play a role in the IgE-mediat ed occupational respiratory disorders and the 37 kDa component has als o been shown to be the major allergen.