ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PROTEIC ALLERGENS IN REFINED PEANUTOIL

Allergic reactions to peanut oil are very much debated, even if the re sponsibility of peanut oil has been evoked in several cases of adverse reactions, including death related to severe asthma. The aim of the p resent study was to investigate the presence of allergenic proteins in peanut oil. Proteins were extracted from commercial refined peanut oi l, with a relative content in the order of 0.1-0.2 mu g per g of oil, and molecular sizes ranging from 14 up to 76 kDa in SDS-PAGE, Eight pr otein bands were systematically observed in crude, neutralized and ref ined oils, with a molecular mass ranging from approximate to 14 to 76 kDa, including one at 18 kDa which was identified by Western blot perf ormed with serum from two allergic patients. The protein extract gave positive IgE-RIA with patient sera, positive in vitro leucocyte histam ine release tests and positive skin-prick tests in allergic patients. The allergenic protein was purified by HPLC and [I-125] iodide-labelle d. It had an isoelectric point at 4.5 in isoelectrofocusing. In conclu sion, we have demonstrated the presence of allergenic proteins in crud e and refined peanut oil. These proteins are the same size as two alle rgens previously described in peanut protein extracts.