TOBACCO AND AIR POLLUTION Atopic Diseases, Allergic Sensitization, and Exposure to Traffic-Related Air Pollution in Children

REVIEWERS COMMENTS. In vitro diagnosis of allergic sensitization is currently confirmed by using allergen extracts derived from natural source materials. The authors previously described creation of this recombinant major cat allergen, rFel d 1. Investigation with such purified recombinant proteins is a current area of intense interest within the field of allergy and immunology, because these engineered proteins may offer improved diagnostic specificity and theoretically may offer superior therapy for type 1 hypersensitivity. Previous research showed that allergen-specific IgE levels are predictive for the likelihood of allergic disease including asthma; however, some allergen-avoidance studies failed to show significant evidence of improvement or protection. This study gives further support to cat allergy causing asthma.