Prevention of allergic sensitization to beta-lactoglobulin with conjugates made of beta-lactoglobulin coupled to isologous immunoglobulin G.

We have shown that, under certain conditions, a single dose of a conjugate of beta-lactoglobulin linked to isologous IgG suppresses specific antibody responses (IgE, IgG, and IgA) in rats immunized with beta-lactoglobulin. This suppression is allergen specific. It also appears to be effective when animals are first immunized and then tolerized. In addition, administration of the beta-lactoglobulin-IgG tolerogen abolishes mast cell mediator release. This has been shown both in vivo and with passively sensitized mast cells in vitro. We propose that the construction of a tolerogen made of whole protein allergen linked to IgG could provide a novel specific therapy for allergic reactions.