Elicitation of skin test reactions by complexes of penicillin or its derivatives with solubilized erythrocyte stroma receptors

• Published in: The Journal of allergy Vol. 42; no. 2; pp. 74 - 87
• Main Authors: Mathews, Kenneth P., Pan, Pauline M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.08.1968
• Subjects: Cell Wall; Chymotrypsin; Clostridium perfringens - enzymology; DNA Nucleotidyltransferases; Drug Hypersensitivity; Enterococcus faecalis - growth & development; Erythrocytes; Humans; Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; Male; Neuraminidase; Nitrogen - analysis; Papain; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis; Penicillins; RNA Nucleotidyltransferases; Skin Tests; Solubility; Trypsin
• ISSN: 0021-8707
• DOI: 10.1016/0021-8707(68)90137-8

Two methods are described for reproducibly preparing from penicillin or its derivatives and solubilized erythrocyte stroma complexes which are capable of eliciting skin test responses in sensitive subjects or in producing passive transfer reactions with sera containing penicillin antibodies. The complexes maintain their biological activity for at least 27 months when stored at 4° C., and microgram quantities are active in provoking specific skin test reactions. The data suggest that both the penicillin and receptor components of these conjugates are heterogeneous. Besides the benzyl penicilloyl determinant, it appears that 2 or more additional penicillin derivatives also are present in these complexes. Thus they have been able to elicit passive transfer reactions when tests with either penicillin or penicilloyl polylysine were positive, and with 2 sera tests with the stroma complexes were repeatedly positive while the other antigens gave no response. The sensitized stroma had no demonstrable antibiotic activity. The presence of penicilloyl groups in the sensitized stroma could be confirmed by biochemical methods, but the nature of additional penicillin derivatives could not be ascertained. Further data suggest that different penicillin derivatives may attach to different red cell components. The myxovirus receptors are not involved.