Alteration of salicylate binding to serum protein in allergic subjects.

The binding of serum protein to salicylate was measured by a Sephadex batch method in the serum of 82 allergic individuals, 30 members of their families, and 24 normals. Subjects with the immediate types of allergy exhibited a significantly (p less than 0.001) increased binding ability corrected for albumin (Alb). The members of their families also showed significantly (p less than 0.005) elevated binding, but this was lower than in the allergic subjects themselves. The binding study with serum proteins fractionated with DEAE-Sephadex A-50 from both allergic and normal subjects using 14C-labeled salicylate showed that the salicylate molecule binds exclusively to Alb. No correlation was observed between the binding ability corrected for Alb and the serum Alb concentration in allergic and normal subjects. From the evidence obtained, there seems to be a certain underlying diathesis related to the Alb binding ability to endogenous inflammatory substances, which may back up the consequences of allergic reactions among allergic individuals.