Axelsson I G, Johansson S G, Larsson P H, Zetterström O
Department of Clinical Immunology, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Allergy. 1991 Feb;46(2):92-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.1991.tb00550.x.
Ornamental plants have long been used for indoor decoration. An example is the india rubber tree (Ficus elastica). With the increased popularity of green plants, both in private homes and public premises, small-leaf species, such as weeping fig or Ficus benjamina (Fb), have become widely used. Exposure to dust from Fb may cause sensitization and allergic airway symptoms, which among occupationally exposed plant keepers occur both in atopics and non-atopics. The serum reactivity to sap extracts from Fb and seven other indoor plants of the genus Ficus were investigated with RAST and a RAST inhibition technique, using sera from 12 atopic subjects and 12 plant keepers, sensitized to Fb. The allergenic similarity between the different extracts was found to be extensive. The specific IgE antibodies with the highest concentrations in serum were those against Fb and its variegate form, "star light", with decreasing values for the other species, especially those with larger leaves. The binding of IgE antibodies to the other Ficus RAST discs could be completely inhibited by extract of Fb. These reactions were probably due to cross-reactivity. Sensitization is believed to occur by inhalation of allergen-enriched dust, emanating from the leaves of the plants. The high allergenic potency of the species with many small leaves may be due to their large total leaf area.
观赏植物长期以来一直用于室内装饰。印度橡胶树（橡皮树）就是一个例子。随着绿色植物在私人住宅和公共场所越来越受欢迎，小叶品种，如垂叶榕或孟加拉榕（Fb），已被广泛使用。接触来自Fb的灰尘可能会导致致敏和过敏性气道症状，在职业接触植物的养护人员中，特应性个体和非特应性个体都会出现这种情况。使用来自12名对Fb致敏的特应性受试者和12名植物养护人员的血清，通过放射变应原吸附试验（RAST）和RAST抑制技术，研究了对Fb和其他七种榕属室内植物汁液提取物的血清反应性。发现不同提取物之间的变应原相似性广泛。血清中浓度最高的特异性IgE抗体是针对Fb及其斑叶变种“星光”的，其他品种的值则逐渐降低，尤其是那些叶子较大的品种。Fb提取物可完全抑制IgE抗体与其他榕属RAST盘的结合。这些反应可能是由于交叉反应性。据信，致敏是通过吸入植物叶片散发的富含变应原的灰尘而发生的。许多小叶品种的高变应原性可能是由于它们的总叶面积较大。
