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ß-Glucans in standardized allergen extracts

Associates of Cape Cod, East Falmouth, Massachusetts, USA

Steven J. Lempitski

Associates of Cape Cod, East Falmouth, Massachusetts, USA

Jay E. Slater

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, Maryland, USA, jay.slater{at}fda.hhs.gov

Background: Allergen extracts contain variable quantities of bacterial endotoxin. Recent studies have suggested that (13)-ß-D-glucans (ß-glucans), also microbial cell wall components, may have adjuvant properties that could affect allergen immunotherapy.

Objective: To determine the quantities of ß-glucans in standardized allergen extracts.

Materials and Methods : Ninety-four lots of 13 standardized allergen extracts were tested for ß-glucan content by Glucatell assay, and for endotoxin content by a specific, chromogenic formulation of the Limulus amebocyte lysate test.

Results: Standardized allergen extracts contain variable quantities of endotoxins and ß-glucans. As in our previous work, endotoxin activity was greatest in cat pelt and Dermatophagoides farinae, and least in the pollens. There was no correlation between endotoxin and ß-glucan levels (r = 0.1887; P = 0.07). ß-Glucan content was highest for grass pollen (median content, 10.6 ng/ml; range, 0.4—41.8 ng/ml), ragweed pollen (32.9 ng/ml; range, 6.5—41.2 ng/ml), and cat pelt (25.5 ng/ml; range, 16.7—41.1 ng/ml), and lowest for cat hair (4.9 ng/ml; range, 1.2—10.3 ng/ml), D. farinae (1.2 ng/ml; range, 0.4—5.2 ng/ml) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (1.8 ng/ml; range, 0.4—6.7 ng/ml).

Conclusions: ß-Glucans are present in standardized allergen extracts. The effects of these quantities of ß-glucans on allergen immunotherapy and allergen skin testing require further study.

Key Words: ß-Glucan • endotoxin • allergen immunotherapy • allergen extracts • allergen standardization

Journal of Endotoxin Research, Vol. 12, No. 4, 241-245 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/09680519060120040501


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