Male-Specific Submaxillary Gland Protein, a Lipocalin Allergen of the Golden Hamster, Differs from the Lipocalin Allergens of Siberian and Roborovski Dwarf Hamsters

Background: An increasing number of asthma cases upon exposure to hamsters and anaphylactic reactions following hamster bites are being reported, but the allergens responsible are still poorly characterized. In the Golden hamster, male-specific submaxillary gland protein (MSP), a lipocalin expressed in a sexand tissue-specific manner in the submaxillary and lacrimal glands, is secreted in the saliva, tears and urine. The purpose of this study was to determine if MSP is an allergen, to identify IgE-reactive proteins of different hamster species and to analyse potential cross-reactivities. Methods: Fur extracts were prepared from four hamster species. Hamster-allergic patients were selected based on a history of positive IgE-test to hamster epithelium. The IgE-reactivity of patients’ sera was investigated by means of immunoblot and ELISA. IgE-reactive proteins in fur extracts and Received: July 21, 2014 Accepted after revision: December 5, 2014 Published online: February 28, 2015 Correspondence to: Dr. Christiane Hilger Department of Infection and Immunity, LIH 84 Val Fleuri LU–1526 Luxembourg (Luxembourg) E-Mail christiane.hilger @ lih.lu Correspondence to: Dr. Prabir Kumar De CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology Uppal Road Hyderabad, 500007 (India) E-Mail pkde @ ccmb.res.in © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel 1018–2438/15/1661–0030$39.50/0