Penicillin polymers antigenicity

Table 1. Penicilloyl-specific antigenicity and amounts of penicillin polymers formed in aqueous solutions of some penicillins after standing for 14 days at room temperature. (Smith et al. 1971)...

In summary, it seems firmly established that penicillin polymers, and especially polymers formed from aminopenicillins, exhibit a strong penicilloyl-specific antigenicity and it is likely that they may play a part in the elicitation of some clinical allergic reactions to penicillin preparations. The question of immunogenicity of penicillin polymers is still to be fully resolved. 

The experiment consists in the incubation of the labeled antigen (1) with increasing concentrations of MIP or NIP/CP, and (2) with the same set of concentrations but in the presence of a constant concentration of analyte sufficient to displace significantly the probe from the polymer [22]. Each point in the dilution curve should be determined at least by duplicate and preferably between five and ten replicates so that we can obtain not only the optimum polymer concentration for the assay but also an estimate of the standard deviation of the response at each point along the curves. The curve representing the difference (% bound label) of the bound label in the absence and in the presence of the analyte will render the optimum MIP concentration to be used in the assay. Using this approach we have optimized the amount of polymer required for the development of a fluoroimmuno-like assay for penicillin analysis [36],... 

Contaminants of high molecular weight (considered to have arisen from mycelial residues from the fermentation process) may be responsible for the induction of allergy to penicillins their removal leads to a marked reduction in the antigenicity of the penicillin. It has also been found, however, that varying amounts of a non-protein polymer (of unknown source) may also be present in penicillin and that this also may be antigenic. 

Munro AC, Dewdney JM, Smith H, Wheeler AW (1976) Antigenic properties of polymers formed by j9-lactam antibiotics. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol 50 192-205 Muranaka M, Igarashi H, Koizumi K, Okumura H, Takeda K, Suzuki S (1974) Elicitation of homologous passive cutaneous anaphylactic reactions by a penicillin preparation. J Allergy Clin Immunol 54 329-338... 

Of great practical importance is the possible behavoir of benzylpenicillin oligomers and polymers as plurivalent antigens eliciting immediate-type anaphylactic reactions in already sensitized individuals. If such polymers, usually present in penicillin solutions (Batchelor et al. 1967 Butcher and Stewart 1969, de Weck et al. 1968 Dewdney et al. 1971 Muranaka et al. 1974) are indeed able to elicit such reactions, there is no need to explain them by rapid conjugation in vivo. 

Boyd JF, Butcher BT, Stewart GT (1973) The nephrotoxic effect of cephaloridine and its polymers. Int J Clin Pharmacol Biopharm 7 307 Brandriss MW, Smith JW, Steinman HG (1965) Common antigenic determinants of penicillin G, cephalothin and 6-aminopenicillanic acid in rabbits. J Immunol 94 696 Bredt J (1965) Akute nicht-allergische Reaktionen bei Anwendung von Depot-Penicillin. Dtsch Med Wochenschr 90 1559... 

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