Author/Authors :
Taala, Leila kharazmi university (university of tarbiat moallem) - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Biology, تهران, ايران , Majd, Ahmad kharazmi university (university of tarbiat moallem) - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Biology, تهران, ايران , Majd, Ahmad islamic azad university - Department of Biology, ايران , Nourizadeh, Maryam tehran university of medical sciences tums - Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, تهران, ايران , Pourpak, Zahra tehran university of medical sciences tums - Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, تهران, ايران
Abstract :
Background: Maize is a member of the Poaceae family, capable of producing large amounts of pollen grains which may constitute im-portant allergens in spring and summer. The aim of this study was to determine the protein content of maize pollen and its allergenicity in guinea pigs. Methods: The morphology of maize pollens was determined using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The size of sepa- rated proteins was obtained by SOS-PAGE. A group of animals were immunized with maize pollen extract and the others were kept as control. After 40 days, the skin prick test was done in animals after blood sampling for counting the eosinophils. The allergenisity of proteins was identified by immunoblotting of transferred bonds using sera from sensitized guinea pigs.Results: Pollen grains showed a spherical, monoporate structure with the scabrate exine surface. The SOS-PAGE indicated a major band of about 50kO.We also showed increase in fare and wheal diameter following skin prick test in sensitized guinea pigs along with an elevated number of eosinophils. The presence of group 13 allergen (Zea m13) with molecular weight of ~ 50kD was found in immunoblot- ting results. Conclusion: This study showed one protein in maize pollen extract that could be considered as an allergen belonging to group 13 of al- lergen categories. However, further investigations should be scheduled for precise analysis of the proteins. This allergen can be used for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes (vaccination approaches) in allergic asthma patients.
