Identification of collagen as a new fish allergen

This study was intended to identify a high molecular weight allergen that h ad been detected in fish. Analyses by ELISA of five protein fractions prepa red from bigeye tuna muscle showed that the high molecular weight allergen was contained in the myostromal protein fraction. Based on the results of S DS-PAGE, immunoblotting and amino acid analysis of the myostromal protein f raction, the high molecular weight allergen was judged to be collagen. Five of the eight patient sera used were found to react to the bigeye tuna coll agen. In competitive ELISA inhibition experiments, the bigeye tuna collagen almost completely inhibited the IgE reactivity to the heated extracts from five species of fish, suggesting that collagen is commonly allergic regard less of fish species. However, no antigenic cross-reactivity was observed b etween collagens from fish and other animals.