In consequence, the diversity of the allergen pattern of some breeds was possibly not reflected sufficiently in commercial extracts, when standardization was performed with special regard to the Bos d 2 content. In the immunoblot experiments we illustrated the comparison of the individual sensitization patterns of cattle allergic farmers using individual as well as commercial cattle allergen extracts. Our results on the IgE binding are in agreement with previous studies showing reactivity at molecular weights at 11, 15–17, 20, 22,

24, 27, 30, 35, 55, and 62 kDa (Prahl et al. 1978, 1982; Ylönen et al. 1990, 1992a, b; Savolitinib Valero Santiago et al. 1997). Additionally, our results described proteins with allergological relevance—besides the major find more allergens between 18 and 25 kDa—at molecular weights of 14, 30, 55, and in the range of 67–97 kDa, which reacted with sera of more than 50% of patients. Our results substantiate the relevance of these proteins which should be reflected in diagnostic cattle allergen extracts. One of our most striking results was that 32% of the farmers with cattle related symptoms but negative results with commercial serological tests showed distinct reactions with various cow allergens in the immunoblotting experiments.

Therefore we suggest for clinical allergology that skin tests should be performed with self-prepared extracts of cattle hair in patients with obviously cow related symptoms. Besides the lack of certain allergens, another reason for the discrepant results in allergological testing may be that some proteins eFT-508 price BCKDHB could have lost their ability to react

with IgE antibodies as a consequence of methods of commercial production. Another reason may be the low concentration level of specific allergens in commercial extracts. In order to improve the accuracy of the results of allergen tests in the future, we recommend the inclusion of a greater number of different proteins in addition to the previously presented major allergens in the extracts because of their relevance as demonstrated by our findings. An individual’s response to allergens and the related sensitization spectrum depend on, among others, the chemical nature of the allergens as well as the frequency and intensity of the contact. Bos d 2 levels found in air in the stables may differ (Turowski et al. 2007; Virtanen et al. 1986, 1988, 1992). These variations may be linked to environmental factors such as ventilation or construction details of the cattle stable. They may also be linked to the characteristics of cattle in the stable, such as the number of cattle, or different Bos d 2 distribution of the different cattle breeds. Concerning this aspect our results show characteristics of the Bos d 2 levels in the hair of the cattle: Certain breeds such as German Brown and Simmental have particularly high quantities of Bos d 2 in the hair.