[Induction of reaginic hypersensitivity to tartrazine in the rabbit immunization by ingestion of the covalent conjugate tartrazine-human serum albumin (author's transl)].

Sensitization to simple chemical substances acting as haptens is not well known in food allergy. For that purpose, a study was made in rabbit using tartrazine alone with adjuvant, or mixed with human serum albumin (HSA), or conjugated by covalent BOP bonds with HSA. Hypersensitivity was evaluated by rabbit basophil degranulation test which would offer more specificity through cell membrane IgE-antibody reactions, and thus, more accuracy than classical passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. The data showed that sensitization could not be induced by ingestion of tartrazine with adjuvant or mixed with a protein. But covalent conjugate T-HSA mixed with adjuvant sensitized 8 of the 9 rabbits studied. It seems that preceding irritation of intestinal mucous membrane by acetylsalicylic acid enables one to obtain a more long lasting sensitization.