ABSTRACT
Since LMW agents are nonimmunogenic in their native state, it is assumed that they must form stable associations with proteins in order to initiate an immune response. These proteinhapten conjugates can be recognized and internalized by professional antigen-presenting cells (APC) such as dendritic (DC) or Langerhans cells. Like most HMW agents, these conjugates are presented to T-cells, which initiate an immune response and, possibly, asthma via an IgE-mediated mechanism or another mechanism. LMW asthmogens such as, complex platinum salts and trimellitic anhydride (TMA), are generally considered to induce asthma via specific IgE antibodies. These
agents most likely possess a unique inherent ability to react directly (or indirectly, after metabolic activation) with functional groups reacting with human proteins to form antigenicbinding determinants (3,4). Not only albumin, but also other proteins such as keratin and tubulin can serve as carriers to render LMW agents immunogenic (4,5).
