Penetration von Pollenallergenen durch die Haut: Entwicklung einer neuen Nachweismethode

The penetration of type I allergens into the skin is necessary for the development for IgE associated skin reactions. The development of a method to study the penetration of pollen allergens into the skin was the aim of the present study. These studies are based on the observation that a release of allergens from pollen was determined after the contact with sweat or water. Next, the allergens of grass pollen were labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). After application of these FITC-labeled allergens, the Stratum corneum (SC) was removed using the tape stripping procedure. This method allows to remove the SC completely by a successive application and stripping of an adhesive tape. These investigations were performed in vitro on porcine skin. Finally, the FITC-labeled allergens or their fragments were detected using fluorescence microscopy on all tape strips taken (up to 50) reflecting the complete SC. This result indicates the ability of large molecules as type I allergens to penetrate into the skin depending on their concentration. Therefore, the contact of pollen with sweat on the skin may lead to the penetration of the allergens into the skin which represents the basis for eliciting a skin reaction by type 1 allergens.