Detection of proteins in wheat flour extracts that bind human IgG, IgE, and mouse monoclonal antibodies.

Wheat flour was extracted with phosphate-buffered saline. The biologic significance of the extracted cereal proteins was demonstrated. Basophil leukocytes were obtained from patients suffering from "baker's asthma disease." Histamine release in vitro was induced by addition of the aqueous flour extract. By means of ELISA, as well as immunoblotting technique, IgG and IgE binding to wheat flour proteins was demonstrated. Wheat-specific antibodies could be detected in sera obtained from healthy and atopic individuals. Further analysis of the cereal components by monoclonal antibodies revealed that several wheat molecules exhibit identical epitopes.