Allergen-reducing agent, allergen-reduced product, and method for measuring allergen-reducing properties

Abstract

The present invention provides an allergen-reducing agent that exhibits an excellent allergen-reducing effect and that suppresses the action on the antibody of an antibody-coated plate used in the ELISA method. This allergen-reducing agent is characterized by containing a compound having a carboxyl group and a salt of an acidic amino acid and / or a basic amino acid. As a result, the allergen-reducing agent exhibits an excellent allergen-reducing effect and accurate measurement of allergen levels by the ELISA method can be carried out with minimal inhibition of the reaction between the antibody formed on the antibody-coated plate and the allergen.

Description

Allergen-reducing agent, allergen-reduced product, and method for measuring allergen-reducing properties

[0001] The present invention relates to an allergen-reducing agent, an allergen-reduced product, and a method for measuring allergen-reducing properties.

[0002] In recent years, many allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis, bronchial asthma, and allergic rhinitis have become a problem. The main causes of these allergic diseases are mites that live in homes, particularly allergens from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dermatophagoides), which are abundant in house dust, and cedar pollen allergens (Cry j1 and Cry j2), which are airborne in large quantities mainly in spring.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need for a technology that can remove allergens from living spaces or inactivate them by denaturing them.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses particles for removing allergens, which are made of a vinyl polymer having 0.5 to 12 mmol / g of H-type carboxyl groups and a crosslinked structure.

[0005] JP 2009-160563 A

[0006] However, the allergen-removing particles disclosed in Patent Document 1 also react with the antibodies present in the antibody-coated plates used in the ELISA method for measuring the amount of allergens, which means that even if active allergens are present, the allergens may not be detected by the ELISA method, and there is a risk that the allergen reduction effect may be overestimated.

[0007] The present invention provides an allergen-reducing agent, an allergen-reduced product, and a method for measuring allergen reduction, which exhibit excellent allergen-reducing effects and suppress the action on antibodies in antibody-coated plates used in ELISA.

[0008] The allergen reducing agent of the present invention is characterized by containing a compound having a carboxy group and at least one of a salt of an acidic amino acid and a basic amino acid.

[0009] The allergen reduction measurement method of the present invention comprises a reaction step of contacting a test specimen containing a compound having a carboxy group with an allergen solution containing an allergen, and a measurement step of measuring the antigenicity of the allergen contained in the allergen solution after the reaction step, and is characterized in that in the reaction step, a salt of an acidic amino acid or a basic amino acid is supplied to the test specimen or the allergen solution before or after contacting the allergen solution with the test specimen.

[0010] The allergen reducing agent of the present invention has little effect on the antibodies in the antibody-coated plate used in the ELISA method, and hardly inhibits the reaction between the antibodies formed on the antibody-coated plate and the allergen. Therefore, the amount of allergen can be accurately measured by the ELISA method (hereinafter, this may be expressed as "having little effect on antibodies"). Therefore, the user can take appropriate measures based on the accurate amount of allergen.

[0011] In the numerical ranges described in stages in this specification, the upper or lower limit of a certain numerical range can be arbitrarily combined with the upper or lower limit of another numerical range. In the numerical ranges described in this specification, the upper or lower limit of the numerical range may be replaced with a value shown in an example or a value that can be unambiguously derived from an example. In this specification, a numerical value connected with "to" means a numerical range that includes the numbers before and after "to" as the lower and upper limits.

[0012] The allergen-reducing agent of the present invention contains a compound having a carboxy group and a salt of an acidic amino acid or a basic amino acid.

[0013] In the allergen reducing agent, the total amount of the compound having a carboxy group, the salt of an acidic amino acid, and the basic amino acid is preferably 50% by mass or more, more preferably 60% by mass or more, more preferably 70% by mass or more, more preferably 80% by mass or more, more preferably 90% by mass or more, more preferably 95% by mass or more, and more preferably 99% by mass or more.

[0014] [Compound Having a Carboxy Group] The allergen reducing agent of the present invention contains a compound having a carboxy group (—COOH). The compound having a carboxy group may be a compound that exhibits an allergen-reducing effect as an active ingredient, or may be one that is included in the allergen reducing agent as an additive such as a dispersant or pH adjuster. When a compound having a carboxy group is included as an additive, the allergen reducing agent also contains a compound that exhibits an allergen-reducing effect. It is preferable that the compound having a carboxy group does not contain a salt of the carboxy group (—COOH) in the molecule. It is preferable that the compound having a carboxy group does not contain an amino group (—NH2) or an acid addition salt thereof in the molecule.

[0015] A case where a compound having a carboxy group is contained in an allergen reducing agent as an active ingredient that exerts an allergen reducing effect will be described.

[0016] The content of the compound having a carboxy group in the allergen reducing agent is preferably 20% by mass or more, more preferably 30% by mass or more, more preferably 40% by mass or more, and even more preferably 50% by mass or more. The content of the compound having a carboxy group in the allergen reducing agent is preferably 95% by mass or less. The compound having a carboxy group may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds.

[0017] The allergen reducing agent exhibits an excellent allergen reducing effect by containing a compound having a carboxy group.

[0018] Here, the allergen reducing agent refers to an agent having an allergen reducing effect. The allergen reducing effect can be determined by measuring the allergen reduction rate for cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1) or mite allergen (Derf1) as described below, and if the allergen reduction rate for at least either allergen is 60% or more, the agent can be determined to have an allergen reducing effect.

[0019] The cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1) may be, for example, a product commercially available from ITEA under the trade name "Cedar Pollen Extract, Code 10103."The mite allergen (Derf1) may be, for example, a product commercially available from ITEA under the trade name "Mite Allergen Extract, Code 10102."

[0020] The lyophilized powder of the allergen is dissolved in purified water to prepare an allergen solution containing 10 μg / mL of the allergen. Then, phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.4, hereafter referred to as "PBS-T") containing 0.05 w / v% polysorbate 20 is added to the allergen solution and mixed uniformly to prepare an allergen solution containing 15 ng / mL of the allergen.

[0021] 5 mg of the allergen denaturing agent is placed in a 1.5 mL tube, and 1 mL of the above allergen solution is added dropwise. The tube is then sealed and left to stand at 25° C. for 2 hours to prepare a test solution.

[0022] Next, the amount W1 (ng / mL) of the allergen present in the test solution is measured using an ELISA kit.

[0023] The cedar pollen allergen measurement kit may be, for example, a measurement kit commercially available from ITEA under the product name "Cedar Pollen Allergen (Cryj1) ELISA Kit, Code 10204."The mite allergen measurement kit may be, for example, a measurement kit commercially available from ITEA under the product name "Mite Allergen (Derf1) ELISA Kit, Code 10205."

[0024] The amount of allergen present in the test solution, W0 (ng / mL), is measured in the same manner as above, except that no allergen denaturing agent is added to the 1.5 mL tube. The allergen denaturation rate (%) is calculated using the following formula: Allergen denaturation rate (%) = 100 - (W1 / W0) x 100

[0025] In the case of an allergen-reduced product that includes a substrate and an allergen-reducing agent contained in or attached to the substrate, the allergen reduction rate may be measured as follows.

[0026] When the allergen-reduced product is a textile product, the allergen reduction rate of the allergen-reduced product can be measured using ISO 4333: Test for evaluation of activity in reducing proteins derived from pollen, dust mites, etc.

[0027] When the allergen-reduced product is a molded body or laminate, the allergen reduction rate measurement (coating film) performed in the examples described below can be used. Note that the above-mentioned method for measuring the allergen reduction rate can also be applied to allergens other than cedar pollen allergens. In the above-mentioned measurement of the allergen reduction rate (coating film), the paint and substrate may be any material that does not interfere with the measurement of the allergen reduction rate.

[0028] The allergen reduction rate of the allergen reducing agent is preferably 70% or more, more preferably 80% or more, more preferably 85% or more, more preferably 90% or more, and even more preferably 95% or more.

[0029] Allergens that can be targeted by allergen reducing agents include animal allergens such as house dust mite allergens (Der1, Der2) and allergens caused by dogs and cats (Can f1, Fel d1), as well as airborne cedar pollen allergens (Cryj1, Cryj2) and plant allergens such as pollen. Particularly effective animal allergens include allergens from mites (mites are organisms of the Arthropoda class - order Acari, and are divided into seven main suborders: dorsal stigmata represented by Dermestida, tetrastigmata represented by hard mites, posterior stigmata represented by Ixodes ovatus and Ornithoides pulcherrimus, middle stigmata represented by house mites and Passer mites, anterior stigmata represented by Lunanese Cheyletida and Tarsoria cruzi, house dust mites such as Dermatophagoides farinae, astigmata represented by Tyrophagus putrescentiae, and cryptostigmata represented by Ornithoides nigricans and Neospora nigricans). However, it is particularly effective against house dust mites, which are abundant in house dust, especially in bedding, and cause allergic diseases.

[0030] The compound having a carboxy group may have one or more carboxy groups in the molecule. The compound having a carboxy group is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a polymer having a carboxy group in the side chain of a linear polymer, citric acid, iminodiacetic acid, mellitic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), 1,3-propanediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (PDTA), aconitic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, mesaconic acid, and benzoic acid. Taric acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, methylenedisalicylic acid, cis-Δ4-tetrahydrophthalic acid, gluconic acid, mucic acid, 3,3'-thiodipropionic acid, 2,2'-thiodiglycolic acid, 3,3'-dithiodipropionic acid, 2,2'-dithiodiglycolic acid, 2,2'-dithiosalicylic acid, 4,4'-dithiodibutyric acid, 3-(dodecylthio)propionic acid, picolinic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid, enanthic acid, capric acid Acetic acid, pelargonic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, crotonic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, quinic acid, salicylic acid, benzoic acid, vanillic acid, gallic acid, mandelic acid, benzilic acid, phloretic acid, coumaric acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, sinapic acid, 4-aminobenzoic acid, triglycolaminic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, carboxymethylcellulose, carboxymethylated chitosan, carboxymethylated chitin , carboxymethyl dextran, carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin, carboxysucrose, pectin, xanthan gum, alginic acid, hyaluronic acid, fulvic acid, humic acid, uronic acid, arabinonic acid, fructuronic acid, tagaturonic acid, glucuronic acid, iduronic acid, galacturonic acid, mannuronic acid, guluronic acid, etc., and polyacrylic acid, citric acid, iminodiacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), and phthalic acid are preferred. The compound having a carboxy group may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0031] In the polymer having a carboxy group in the side chain of a linear polymer, the linear polymer is not particularly limited, and for example, vinyl polymer, polyester, and polyurethane are preferred, with vinyl polymer being more preferred.

[0032] Examples of polymers having a carboxy group in the side chain of a linear polymer include polymers containing a carboxy group-containing monomer as a monomer unit. The polymer containing a carboxy group-containing monomer as a monomer unit may be a homopolymer of the carboxy group-containing monomer or a copolymer of the carboxy group-containing monomer and a monomer copolymerizable therewith.

[0033] The carboxy group-containing monomer is not particularly limited and examples thereof include acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, β-carboxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 5-carboxypentyl (meth)acrylate, succinic acid mono(meth)acryloyloxyethyl ester, ω-carboxypolycaprolactone mono(meth)acrylate, crotonic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, carboxybetaine type monomers, etc., with acrylic acid and methacrylic acid being preferred. The carboxy group-containing monomers may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0034] The polymer that becomes the compound having a carboxy group may be polymerized using a general-purpose polymerization method. For example, it can be produced by polymerizing a monomer composition containing a carboxy group-containing monomer in the presence of a general-purpose radical polymerization initiator. Examples of the radical polymerization initiator include thermal cleavage radical polymerization initiators such as 1-hydroxycyclohexan-1-yl phenyl ketone, t-hexyl peroxypivalate, benzoyl peroxide, and azobisisobutyronitrile.

[0035] The number of carboxy groups in the carboxy group-containing compound may be one or more, as this improves the allergen-reducing effect of the allergen-reducing agent. The number of carboxy groups in the carboxy group-containing compound is preferably 1 to 5, and more preferably 2 to 5.

[0036] The pH of a 0.5% by mass aqueous solution of a compound having a carboxy group at 25°C is preferably 4.5 or less, since this allows the acidity of the carboxy group of the compound having a carboxy group to be easily maintained and improves the allergen-reducing effect of the allergen reducing agent. The pH of a 0.5% by mass aqueous solution of a compound having a carboxy group refers to the pH value at 25°C of an aqueous solution obtained by adding 0.5 g of the compound having a carboxy group to 99.5 g of purified water and uniformly mixing them. When the concentration of a saturated aqueous solution of a compound having a carboxy group at 25°C is less than 0.5% by mass, the pH is the pH at 25°C of a suspension containing 0.5 parts by mass of the compound having a carboxy group and 99.5 parts by mass of water, in which the compound having a carboxy group has dissolved in water to its solubility and reached a saturated state.

[0037] The molecular weight of the compound having a carboxy group is preferably 1000 or less, more preferably 800 or less, more preferably 600 or less, more preferably 500 or less, more preferably 450 or less, more preferably 400 or less, and more preferably 350 or less. When the molecular weight of the compound having a carboxy group is 1000 or less, the allergen-reducing effect of the allergen reducing agent is improved.

[0038] The pKa1 of the compound having a carboxy group at 25° C. is preferably 4.5 or less, more preferably 4.2 or less, and even more preferably 4.0 or less. When the pKa1 of the compound having a carboxy group is 4.5 or less, the allergen-reducing effect of the allergen-reducing agent is improved.

[0039] When the compound having a carboxyl group is a polyvalent acid, the compound having a carboxyl group undergoes multi-stage ionization, and pKa1 refers to the pKa calculated based on the ionization constant of the first stage. + and A - When an acid dissociates into an acid and reaches ionization equilibrium (1), the acid dissociation constant Ka is defined by equation (2), and pKa is defined as the common logarithm (3) of the reciprocal of the acid dissociation constant Ka.

[0040]

[0041] The pKa1 of a compound having a carboxy group refers to a value measured by titration. Specifically, the pKa1 can be determined by titrating the compound having a carboxy group with sodium hydroxide at 25°C and measuring the pH at 25°C at the half-equivalent point (the point at which half the amount required for complete neutralization has been added dropwise).

[0042] The amount of carboxy groups in the carboxyl group-containing compound is preferably 4 mmol / g or more, more preferably 6.5 mmol / g or more, and even more preferably 10 mmol / g or more. When the amount of carboxy groups in the carboxyl group-containing compound is 4 mmol / g or more, the allergen-reducing effect of the allergen-reducing agent is improved.

[0043] The amount of carboxy groups (-COOH) in a compound having a carboxy group refers to a value measured by titration. Specifically, approximately 1 g (Cg) of a dried compound having a carboxy group is precisely weighed, 200 mL of purified water is added to the compound having a carboxy group, and then titration is carried out at 25°C using a 0.1 mol / L aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. The amount of aqueous sodium hydroxide consumed (DmL) up to the half-equivalent point (the point at which half the amount required to complete neutralization has been added dropwise) is determined, and the amount of carboxy groups (mmol / g) in the compound having a carboxy group is calculated using the following formula: Amount of Carboxy Groups (mmol / g) = 0.1 x C / D

[0044] [Acidic Amino Acid Salt / Basic Amino Acid] The allergen reducing agent contains either or both of an acidic amino acid salt and a basic amino acid. By containing either or both of an acidic amino acid salt and a basic amino acid, the allergen reducing agent reduces the action of a compound having a carboxy group on the antibody of an antibody-coated plate used in an ELISA method, and hardly inhibits the reaction between the antibody formed on the antibody-coated plate and an allergen. Therefore, the allergen reducing agent enables accurate measurement of the amount of allergen by the ELISA method, and the user can take appropriate measures based on the accurate amount of allergen.

[0045] The salt of an acidic amino acid is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include salts of aspartic acid and glutamic acid. The salt of an acidic amino acid is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include alkali metal salts such as lithium salt, potassium salt, and sodium salt; alkaline earth metal salts such as calcium salt, magnesium salt, and barium salt; alkanolamine salts such as monoethanolamine amine salt, diethanolamine salt, and triethanolamine salt; and ammonium salt. Alkali metal salts are preferred, and monoalkali metal salts are more preferred. As the salt of an acidic amino acid, sodium salts are more preferred, and monosodium salts are more preferred. Since the allergen reducing agent exhibits excellent allergen reduction effects and has less effect on antibodies, the salt of an acidic amino acid is preferably an alkali metal salt of aspartic acid or an alkali metal salt of glutamic acid, and sodium aspartate and sodium glutamate are preferred. The salt of an acidic amino acid is preferably formed at the carboxy group.

[0046] The basic amino acid is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include lysine, arginine, histidine, etc. Lysine and arginine are preferred as allergen reducing agents because they have an excellent allergen reducing effect and have less effect on antibodies. Note that basic amino acids do not include salts and acid addition salts of basic amino acids because the effect of the allergen reducing agent on antibodies would be too great.

[0047] The salt of a basic amino acid is formed at a carboxy group, and examples of the salt of a basic amino acid include alkali metal salts such as lithium salt, potassium salt, and sodium salt, alkaline earth metal salts such as calcium salt, magnesium salt, and barium salt, alkanolamine salts such as monoethanolamine salt, diethanolamine salt, and triethanolamine salt, and ammonium salt.

[0048] Acid addition salts of basic amino acids are formed at the amino group (-NH2). Examples of acids for the acid addition salts of basic amino acids include hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, phosphorous acid, hydrobromic acid, maleic acid, malic acid, ascorbic acid, tartaric acid, lauric acid, stearic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, myristic acid, lauryl sulfuric acid, linoleic acid, and fumaric acid.

[0049] In the allergen-reducing agent, the total content of the acidic amino acid salt and the basic amino acid is preferably 10 parts by mass or more, more preferably 50 parts by mass or more, more preferably 60 parts by mass or more, more preferably 70 parts by mass or more, more preferably 80 parts by mass or more, more preferably 90 parts by mass or more, and more preferably 100 parts by mass or more, relative to 100 parts by mass of the compound having a carboxy group. In the allergen-reducing agent, the total content of the acidic amino acid salt and the basic amino acid is preferably 1,000 parts by mass or less, more preferably 800 parts by mass or less, more preferably 600 parts by mass or less, more preferably 400 parts by mass or less, more preferably 300 parts by mass or less, more preferably 250 parts by mass or less, and more preferably 200 parts by mass or less, relative to 100 parts by mass of the compound having a carboxy group. When the total content of the acidic amino acid salt and the basic amino acid is 10 parts by mass or more, the allergen-reducing agent has less effect on antibodies. When the total content of the acidic amino acid salt and the basic amino acid is 1,000 parts by mass or less, the allergen-reducing effect of the allergen-reducing agent is improved.

[0050] In the allergen reducing agent, the content of the acidic amino acid salt is preferably 10 parts by mass or more, more preferably 50 parts by mass or more, more preferably 60 parts by mass or more, more preferably 70 parts by mass or more, more preferably 80 parts by mass or more, more preferably 90 parts by mass or more, and more preferably 100 parts by mass or more, relative to 100 parts by mass of the compound having a carboxy group. In the allergen reducing agent, the content of the acidic amino acid salt is preferably 1000 parts by mass or less, more preferably 800 parts by mass or less, more preferably 600 parts by mass or less, more preferably 400 parts by mass or less, more preferably 300 parts by mass or less, more preferably 250 parts by mass or less, and more preferably 200 parts by mass or less, relative to 100 parts by mass of the compound having a carboxy group. When the content of the acidic amino acid is 10 parts by mass or more, the allergen reducing agent has less effect on antibodies. When the content of the acidic amino acid salt is 1000 parts by mass or less, the allergen reducing effect of the allergen reducing agent is improved.

[0051] In the allergen reducing agent, the content of the basic amino acid is preferably 10 parts by mass or more, more preferably 50 parts by mass or more, more preferably 60 parts by mass or more, more preferably 70 parts by mass or more, more preferably 80 parts by mass or more, more preferably 90 parts by mass or more, and more preferably 100 parts by mass or more, relative to 100 parts by mass of the compound having a carboxy group. In the allergen reducing agent, the content of the basic amino acid is preferably 1000 parts by mass or less, more preferably 800 parts by mass or less, more preferably 600 parts by mass or less, more preferably 400 parts by mass or less, more preferably 300 parts by mass or less, more preferably 250 parts by mass or less, and more preferably 200 parts by mass or less, relative to 100 parts by mass of the compound having a carboxy group. When the content of the acidic amino acid is 10 parts by mass or more, the allergen reducing agent has less effect on antibodies. When the content of the basic amino acid is 1000 parts by mass or less, the allergen reducing effect of the allergen reducing agent is improved.

[0052] [Allergen-reducing agent] An allergen-reducing agent can be prepared by uniformly mixing a compound having a carboxy group with either or both of an acidic amino acid salt and a basic amino acid, and, if necessary, an additive and / or a solvent. Examples of solvents include water (preferably ion-exchanged water), alcohols (methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, etc.), hydrocarbons (toluene, xylene, methylnaphthalene, kerosene, cyclohexane, etc.), ethers (diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, etc.), ketones (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, etc.), and amides (N,N-dimethylformamide, etc.). Water or lower alcohols having 1 to 5 carbon atoms (e.g., methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, pentanol, etc.) are preferred, as they do not inhibit the action of the acidic amino acid salt and the basic amino acid and can further reduce the effect of the allergen-reducing agent on antibodies.

[0053] The allergen reducing agent has little effect on antibodies when measuring the amount of allergens by ELISA, making it possible to measure the appropriate amount of allergens and enable appropriate measures to be taken against the allergens.

[0054] The effect of an allergen denaturing agent on antibodies (antibody effect) can be measured as follows: A freeze-dried powder of allergen is dissolved in purified water to prepare an allergen solution containing 10 μg / mL of allergen. PBS-T is then added to the allergen solution and mixed uniformly to prepare an allergen solution containing 15 ng / mL of allergen.

[0055] 5 mg of the allergen denaturing agent is placed in a 1.5 mL tube, and 1 mL of PBS-T is added dropwise. The tube is then sealed and left to stand at 25° C. for 2 hours to prepare a test solution.

[0056] Thereafter, 100 μL of the test solution is dropped into the wells of an antibody-immobilized well plate of an allergen amount measurement kit by ELISA method, and left to stand for 1 hour at 25° C. Next, the wells are washed three times with PBS-T.

[0057] Next, ELISA measurement is performed using the above wells to measure the amount of allergen present in the allergen solution containing 15 ng / mL of allergen, Z (ng / mL). The antibody influence (%) is calculated based on the following formula: Antibody influence (%) = 100 - (Z / 15) x 100

[0058] The degree of influence of the allergen reducing agent on antibodies is preferably 20% or less, more preferably 19% or less, and even more preferably 18% or less.

[0059] Next, the usage of the allergen reducing agent will be described. The allergen reducing agent has an allergen reducing effect on the various allergens mentioned above. Furthermore, since the allergen reducing agent has little effect on antibodies, the amount of allergens after treatment with the allergen reducing agent can be accurately measured using the ELISA method, and the allergen can be appropriately reduced using the allergen reducing agent.

[0060] [Allergen-reduced product] The allergen-reducing agent is used, for example, by being contained in or attached to a substrate to which an allergen-reducing effect is to be imparted, to constitute an allergen-reduced product. The substrate containing the allergen-reducing agent exhibits an allergen-reducing effect as an allergen-reduced product. The form in which the allergen-reducing agent is contained in the substrate is not particularly limited, and examples include a form in which the allergen-reducing agent is mixed into the substrate, a form in which the allergen-reducing agent is attached to the surface of the substrate, and a form in which the allergen-reducing agent is kneaded into the substrate.

[0061] The allergen-reducing agent is dissolved or dispersed in a solvent to form an allergen-reducing liquid, and this allergen-reducing liquid is applied to a substrate, thereby allowing the allergen-reducing agent to adhere to the surface of the substrate. The allergen-reducing liquid may contain additives such as solvents, oils, emulsions, and suspending agents, as needed. The solvent is the same as described above, and therefore will not be described here.

[0062] The content of the allergen-reducing agent in 100% by mass of the allergen-reducing liquid is preferably 0.01% by mass or more, more preferably 0.1% by mass or more, and more preferably 1% by mass or more. The content of the allergen-reducing agent in 100% by mass of the allergen-reducing liquid is preferably 20% by mass or less, more preferably 15% by mass or less, and more preferably 10% by mass or less.

[0063] The substrate into which the allergen reducing agent is to be incorporated is not particularly limited as long as it is capable of incorporating the allergen reducing agent, and examples include synthetic resin molded bodies, paints, wallpaper, decorative sheets, flooring materials, fibers, textile products (woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, knitted fabrics), interior and interior materials for vehicles (for example, cars, airplanes, ships, etc.) (seats, child seats, and foams that constitute these, etc.), kitchenware, baby products, and architectural interior materials.

[0064] The building interior materials are not particularly limited, and examples thereof include flooring materials, wallpaper, ceiling materials, paints, doorknobs, switches, switch covers, wax, and the like.

[0065] The vehicle interior goods and materials are not particularly limited, and examples thereof include seats, child seats, seat belts, car mats, seat covers, doors, ceiling materials, floor mats, door trim, instrument panels, consoles, glove boxes, handrails, and the like.

[0066] The synthetic resin constituting the synthetic resin molded body is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include thermoplastic resins (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyvinyl acetate, polyurethane, Teflon (registered trademark), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene resin, acrylonitrile styrene resin, acrylic resin, polyvinyl alcohol, polyamide, polyacetal, polycarbonate, modified polyphenylene ether, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, cyclic polyolefin, polyphenylene sulfide, polytetrafluoroethylene, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyarylate, polyether ether ketone, thermoplastic polyimide, polyamide imide, etc.), thermosetting resins (e.g., phenolic resin, epoxy resin, melamine resin, urea resin, unsaturated polyester resin, alkyd resin, silicone resin, polyurethane, thermosetting polyimide, etc.). The synthetic resins may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0067] The allergen-reducing agent may be kneaded into a synthetic resin. A method for kneading the allergen-reducing agent into a synthetic resin involves mixing the allergen-reducing agent with a synthetic resin raw material to prepare a resin composition, and using this resin composition to obtain an allergen-reduced product of a desired shape as a molded article by a general-purpose synthetic resin molding method. Examples of general-purpose synthetic resin molding methods include extrusion molding, injection molding, and blow molding. The synthetic resin and the allergen-reducing agent may be mixed to prepare a synthetic resin molding masterbatch, which may then be mixed with the synthetic resin raw material to produce an allergen-reduced product as a molded article by a general-purpose synthetic resin molding method.

[0068] The content of the allergen reducing agent in 100% by mass of the resin composition is preferably 1% by mass or more, more preferably 3% by mass or more, and more preferably 5% by mass or more. The content of the allergen reducing agent in 100% by mass of the resin composition is preferably 20% by mass or less, more preferably 15% by mass or less, and more preferably 10% by mass or less.

[0069] The content of the allergen reducing agent in 100% by mass of the synthetic resin molding masterbatch is preferably 20% by mass or more, more preferably 30% by mass or more, and more preferably 50% by mass or more. The content of the allergen reducing agent in 100% by mass of the synthetic resin molding masterbatch is preferably 80% by mass or less, more preferably 70% by mass or less, and more preferably 60% by mass or less.

[0070] Allergen-reducing paints can be produced by incorporating an allergen-reducing agent into paint. Conventional paints can be used as the paint, including oil-based paints (e.g., blended paints, oil varnishes, etc.), cellulose paints, and synthetic resin paints. The paint also includes photocurable paints that polymerize upon exposure to radiation such as ultraviolet light to produce a binder resin component.

[0071] Paints generally contain a binder resin and a solvent. The solvent is the same as that described above, so a detailed description will be omitted. The paint may contain additives such as pigments, plasticizers, curing agents, extenders, fillers, antioxidants, thickeners, and surfactants, as long as the additives do not impair the paint's physical properties. Examples of methods for preparing an allergen-reducing paint by incorporating an allergen-reducing agent into the paint include a method in which the allergen-reducing agent and the paint are supplied to a dispersing device and mixed uniformly. Examples of dispersing devices include a high-speed mill, a ball mill, and a sand mill.

[0072] Examples of binder resins include urethane-based resins such as one-component urethane resins and two-component urethane resins, silicone-based resins, acrylic resins, urethane acrylate resins, polyester resins, unsaturated polyester resins, alkyd resins, vinyl acetate resins, vinyl chloride resins, epoxy resins, and epoxy acrylate resins.

[0073] The content of the allergen-reducing agent in 100% by mass of the allergen-reducing paint is preferably 0.01% by mass or more, more preferably 0.1% by mass or more, and more preferably 1% by mass or more. The content of the allergen-reducing agent in 100% by mass of the allergen-reducing paint is preferably 20% by mass or less, more preferably 15% by mass or less, and more preferably 10% by mass or less.

[0074] By applying a paint to the surface of the above-mentioned substrate and providing a coating film containing an allergen-reducing agent on the surface of the substrate (laminated and integrated), an allergen-reducing product having an allergen-reducing effect can be constructed.

[0075] When the allergen-reduced product is a textile product, the allergen reduction rate and antibody influence level of the allergen-reduced product can be measured using ISO 4333: Test for evaluating the reduction activity of proteins derived from pollen, dust mites, etc. When the allergen-reduced product is a molded body or laminate, the allergen reduction rate measurement (coating film) performed in the Examples described below can be used. Note that the above-mentioned method for measuring the allergen reduction rate is also applicable to dust mite allergen (Derf 1). In the above-mentioned allergen reduction rate measurement (fiber), any fiber substrate can be used as long as it does not interfere with the measurement of the allergen reduction rate. In the above-mentioned allergen reduction rate measurement (coating film), any paint and substrate can be used as long as they do not interfere with the measurement of the allergen reduction rate.

[0076] [Other compounds having an allergen-reducing effect] The above describes the case where a compound having a carboxy group has an allergen-reducing effect. When the allergen-reducing agent contains a compound having a carboxy group as an additive, the allergen-reducing agent also contains a compound having an allergen-reducing effect.

[0077] The compound that exhibits the allergen-reducing effect is not particularly limited as long as it exhibits the above-mentioned allergen-reducing effect, and examples thereof include a compound having a sulfo group (—SO3H), a compound having a phosphonic acid group [—P(═O)(OH)2], a zinc compound, a silver compound, a titanium compound, a copper compound, or a salt of any of these compounds.

[0078] The salt of the sulfo group (-SO3H) is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include sodium salt (-SO3Na), calcium salt [(-SO3 - )2Ca 2+ ], ammonium salt (-SO3 - NH4 + ), magnesium salt [(-SO3 - ) 2Mg 2+ ], barium salts [(-SO3 - )2Ba 2+ and the like, and sodium salts are preferred.

[0079] The salt of the phosphonic acid group [-P(=O)(OH)2] is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include sodium salt [-P(=O)(ONa)2], calcium salt [-P(=O)(O - ) 2Ca 2+ ], ammonium salt [—P(═O)(O - NH4 + ) 2], magnesium salt [-P(=O)(O - ) 2Mg 2+ ], barium salts [—P(═O)(O - ) 2Ba 2+ ] and others.

[0080] The compound containing a sulfo group (—SOH) may have one or more sulfo groups in the molecule, and examples thereof include a polymer having a sulfo group in the side chain of a linear polymer, polystyrene sulfonic acid, sulfonated (styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer), sulfonated polyether sulfone, etc.

[0081] The compound containing a salt of a sulfo group may have one or more salts of a sulfo group in the molecule, and examples thereof include linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, α-olefin sulfonates, alkyl diphenyl ether sulfonates, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether sulfate ester salts, polymers having a salt of a sulfo group in the side chain of a linear polymer, salts of polystyrene sulfonic acid, salts of sulfonated (styrene-divinylbenzene copolymers), and salts of sulfonated polyether sulfones.

[0082] The compound having a phosphonic acid group [—P(═O)(OH)] may have one or more phosphonic acid groups in the molecule, and examples thereof include 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid, N,N,N′,N′-ethylenediaminetetrakis(methylenephosphonic acid), 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid, nitrilotris(methylenephosphonic acid), and a polymer having a phosphonic acid group in the side chain of a linear polymer.

[0083] The compound containing a salt of a phosphonic acid group may have one or more salts of a phosphonic acid group in the molecule, and examples thereof include a polymer having a salt of a phosphonic acid group in the side chain of a linear polymer.

[0084] The zinc compound may be any compound containing a zinc atom, and examples thereof include zinc, zinc oxide, zinc hydroxylate, and zinc carbonate.

[0085] The silver compound may be any compound containing silver atoms, and examples thereof include silver, silver nitrate, silver oxide, silver sulfide, silver bromide, and silver iodide.

[0086] The titanium compound may be any compound containing titanium atoms, and examples thereof include titanium, titanium oxide, titanium hydroxide, titania phosphate, and titania sol.

[0087] The copper compound may be any compound containing copper atoms, and examples thereof include copper, copper sulfate, copper chloride, copper hydroxy acid, and copper acetate.

[0088] Even when the allergen-reducing agent contains a compound having a carboxy group and a compound other than the compound having a carboxy group that has an allergen-reducing effect, the allergen-reducing agent has little effect on antibodies while maintaining the allergen-reducing effect of the compound that has an allergen-reducing effect. Therefore, the amount of allergen after treatment with the allergen-reducing agent can be accurately measured using the ELISA method, and the allergen can be appropriately reduced using the allergen-reducing agent.

[0089] [Method for measuring allergen reduction] The allergen reducing agent contains a compound having a carboxy group and at least one of a salt of an acidic amino acid and a basic amino acid. When measuring the amount of an allergen by ELISA, the salt of an acidic amino acid or the basic amino acid can be supplied to a test specimen containing the compound having a carboxy group either before or after contacting the test specimen with an allergen solution containing an allergen, allowing the amount of the allergen to be accurately measured by ELISA while reducing the effect on the antibody.

[0090] [Reaction Step] The allergen reduction activity measurement method includes a reaction step of contacting a test sample containing a compound having a carboxy group with an allergen solution containing an allergen.

[0091] In the reaction step, at least one of the salt of an acidic amino acid and the basic amino acid may be supplied to the test specimen or the allergen solution either before or after contacting the test specimen containing a compound having a carboxy group with an allergen solution containing an allergen. That is, (1) the allergen solution may be contacted with the test specimen, and then the salt of an acidic amino acid or the basic amino acid may be supplied to the allergen solution, (2) the allergen solution may be supplied with the salt of an acidic amino acid or the basic amino acid, and then the allergen solution may be contacted with the test specimen, or (3) the salt of an acidic amino acid or the basic amino acid may be supplied to the test specimen, and then the allergen solution may be contacted with the test specimen.

[0092] By allowing a compound having a carboxy group to coexist with a salt of an acidic amino acid or a basic amino acid, the effect of the compound having a carboxy group on antibodies formed on an antibody-coated plate used in the ELISA method can be reduced, regardless of the presence of an allergen, at the timing when the compound having a carboxy group and the salt of an acidic amino acid or the basic amino acid are allowed to coexist.

[0093] [Measurement Step] The allergen reduction activity measurement method includes a measurement step of measuring the antigenicity of the allergen contained in the allergen solution after the reaction step.

[0094] In the measurement step, the amount of allergen present in the allergen solution is measured using a general-purpose ELISA kit. As described above, the coexistence of a compound having a carboxyl group with a salt of an acidic amino acid or a basic amino acid reduces the antibody effect of the compound having a carboxyl group, allowing the amount of allergen to be accurately measured.

[0095] The present invention will be described in more detail using examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Specific numerical values ​​of the blending ratio (content ratio), physical property values, parameters, etc. used in the following description can be replaced with the upper limit (a numerical value defined as "equal to or less than") or lower limit (a numerical value defined as "equal to or more than") of the blending ratio (content ratio), physical property values, parameters, etc. described in the "Description of Embodiments" or "Summary of the Problems" section.

[0096] The compounds used in the examples and comparative examples are shown below: [Compounds having a carboxy group] Citric acid Iminodiacetic acid Phthalic acid Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)

[0097] [Amino acids and their salts] [Salts of acidic amino acids] - Sodium glutamate (monosodium salt) - Sodium aspartate (monosodium salt) In the table, sodium glutamate (monosodium salt) and sodium aspartate (monosodium salt) are simply referred to as "sodium glutamate" and "sodium aspartate", respectively.

[0098] [Basic amino acids] ・Arginine ・Lysine [Salts of basic amino acids] ・Arginine hydrochloride ・Histidine hydrochloride

[0099] [Neutral amino acids] ・Serine ・Cysteine ​​・Methionine ・Alanine ・Valine

[0100] [Other compounds] Bovine serum albumin (BSA)

[0101] For compounds having a carboxy group, the carboxy group content, pKa at 25° C., and pH of a 0.5% by mass aqueous solution at 25° C. are shown in the table. The carboxy group content, pKa at 25° C., and pH of a 0.5% by mass aqueous solution at 25° C. are shown in the columns "Carboxy group content," "pKa at 25° C.," and "pH," respectively.

[0102] (Examples 1 to 9 and Comparative Examples 1 to 10) Allergen reducing agents were prepared by uniformly mixing the types of compounds having a carboxy group shown in Table 1, and amino acids and their salts in the amounts (parts by mass) shown in Table 1.

[0103] The fibers processed with the obtained allergen reducing agent were measured for the allergen reduction rate against cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1) and the degree of influence on antibodies (antibody influence degree) in the following manner, and the results are shown in Table 1. In the table, ">X" (X is a numerical value) means greater than X.

[0104] [Anti-allergen test (fiber)] [Measurement of allergen reduction rate of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1) (fiber)] A predetermined amount of purified water shown in Table 1 was added to the obtained allergen reduction agent and mixed uniformly to prepare an allergen reduction aqueous solution.

[0105] Purified water was added to 1 g of the obtained allergen-reduced aqueous solution and mixed uniformly to prepare an allergen-reduced aqueous solution containing 1% by mass of the allergen-reducing agent.

[0106] Next, as a substrate, polyester fiber (manufactured by Shikisen Co., Ltd., product name "Polyester Tropical Toray", basis weight 120 g / m 2 The fibers were immersed in 100 g of the allergen-reducing aqueous solution for 2 minutes. The immersed polyester fibers were squeezed with a manual mangle and dried at 120°C for 10 minutes to produce allergen-reducing fibers in which the allergen-reducing agent was fixed to the polyester fibers. In the allergen-reducing fibers, the allergen-reducing agent was fixed at 0.25 g / m 2 It was contained.

[0107] A freeze-dried powder of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1) (ITEA, product name "Cedar Pollen Extract, code 10103") was dissolved in purified water to prepare an allergen solution containing 10 μg / mL of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1). PBS-T was then added to the allergen solution and mixed uniformly to prepare an allergen solution containing 15 ng / mL of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1).

[0108] 0.4 g of the allergen-reduced fiber was placed in a zippered plastic bag, and 1 mL of the above allergen solution was dropped into it. The bag was then sealed and left to stand at 25° C. for 2 hours to prepare a test solution.

[0109] Next, the amount W1 (ng / mL) of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1) present in the test solution was measured by ELISA using a cedar pollen allergen measurement kit (ITEA, product name "Cedar Pollen Allergen (Cryj1) ELISA Kit, code 10204").

[0110] The amount of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1) present in the test solution, W0 (ng / mL), was measured in the same manner as above, except that no allergen-reduced fiber was placed in the zippered plastic bag. The allergen reduction rate (%) was calculated using the following formula and is shown in the "Reduction rate (%)" column in Table 1. Allergen reduction rate (%) = 100 - (W1 / W0) x 100

[0111] [Measurement of the effect of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1) on antibodies (fiber)] 0.4 g of the allergen-reduced fiber prepared as described above was placed in a zippered plastic bag, and 1 mL of PBS-T was dropped into it to allow contact. The bag was then sealed and left to stand at 25°C for 30 seconds to prepare a test solution.

[0112] 100 μL of the test solution was dropped into wells of an antibody-immobilized 96-well plate included in the cedar pollen allergen measurement kit (ITEA, trade name "Cedar Pollen Allergen (Cryj1) ELISA Kit, code 10204") and allowed to stand for 1 hour at 25° C. Next, the wells were washed three times with PBS-T using a plate washer (Tecan, trade name "HydroFlexPlus").

[0113] Next, ELISA measurement was performed using the above wells to measure the amount Z (ng / mL) of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1) present in the allergen solution containing 15 ng / mL of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1). The effect (%) on antibodies was calculated based on the following formula and is shown in the "Antibody effect (%)" column in Table 1. It can be said that the smaller the antibody effect (%), the less effect the allergen reducer has on antibodies. Antibody effect (%) = 100 - (Z / 15) x 100

[0114] (Examples 10 to 13 and Comparative Example 11) Allergen reducing agents were prepared by uniformly mixing the types of compounds having a carboxy group shown in Table 2, and amino acids and their salts in the amounts (parts by mass) shown in Table 2.

[0115] The coating film prepared using the obtained allergen reduction agent was measured for the allergen reduction rate against cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1) and the degree of influence on antibodies (antibody influence degree) as described below, and the results are shown in Table 2.

[0116] [Anti-allergen test (coating film)] [Measurement of allergen reduction rate of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1) (coating film)] An allergen-reducing paint was prepared by adding a binder resin (Showa Denko K.K., trade name "Polysol AM-200", solvent: water, solids content: 40% by mass) to the allergen-reducing agent so that the solids content was 90 parts by mass per 10 parts by mass of a compound having a carboxy group.

[0117] Next, a polyester film was prepared as a substrate, and the allergen-reducing paint was applied to one side of this substrate so that the film thickness after drying would be 10 μm, and then dried in an oven at 120° C. for 1 hour to produce an allergen-reduced product with a coating film formed on one side.

[0118] A freeze-dried powder of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1) (ITEA, product name "Cedar Pollen Extract, code 10103") was dissolved in purified water to prepare an allergen solution containing 10 μg / mL of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1). PBS-T was then added to the allergen solution and mixed uniformly to prepare an allergen solution containing 15 ng / mL of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1).

[0119] The allergen-reduced product was cut into a flat square with sides of 5 cm, and 0.4 mL of the allergen solution was dropped onto the coating.The product was then covered with a flat square polyethylene film with sides of 4 cm and left at 25°C for 24 hours to prepare a test solution.

[0120] Next, the amount W1 (ng / mL) of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1) present in the test solution was measured by ELISA using a cedar pollen allergen measurement kit (ITEA, product name "Cedar Pollen Allergen (Cryj1) ELISA Kit, code 10204").

[0121] A blank substrate with a coating film formed on one side was prepared in the same manner as above, except that a blank paint containing 30 parts by weight of water and 225 parts by weight of binder resin was used instead of the allergen-reduced paint. The amount of cedar pollen allergen present in the test solution, W0 (ng / mL), was measured in the same manner as above, except that a blank substrate was used instead of the allergen-reduced product. The allergen reduction rate (%) was calculated using the following formula and is shown in the "Reduction rate (%)" column in Table 2. Allergen reduction rate (%) = 100 - (W1 / W0) x 100

[0122] [Measurement of the effect of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1) on antibodies (coating film)] Allergen-reduced products were prepared in the same manner as in the measurement of the reduction rate of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1). 0.4 mL of PBS-T was dropped onto the coating film of the allergen-reduced product and brought into contact with it. The product was then covered with a flat square polyethylene film measuring 4 cm on a side and left to stand at 25°C for 24 hours to prepare a test solution.

[0123] 100 μL of the test solution was dropped into wells of an antibody-immobilized 96-well plate included in the cedar pollen allergen measurement kit A (ITEA, trade name "Cedar Pollen Allergen (Cryj1) ELISA Kit, code 10204") and allowed to stand for 1 hour at 25° C. Next, the wells were washed three times with PBS-T using a plate washer (Tecan, trade name "HydroFlexPlus").

[0124] Next, ELISA was performed using the above wells to measure the amount Z (ng / mL) of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1) present in the allergen solution containing 15 ng / mL of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1). The effect (%) on the antibody was calculated based on the following formula and is shown in the "Antibody effect (%)" column in Table 2. Antibody effect (%) = 100 - (Z / 15) x 100

[0125] In the following Examples and Comparative Examples, the effects of adding a salt of an acidic amino acid and / or a basic amino acid in the allergen reduction measurement method were examined. First, compounds having a carboxy group of the type shown in Table 3 were prepared.

[0126] For the compounds having the types of carboxyl groups shown in Table 3, the allergen reduction rate and the effect on antibodies (antibody effect) against cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1) were measured as follows, and the results are shown in Table 3.

[0127] [Anti-allergen test (drug)] [Measurement of allergen reduction rate of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1) (drug)] Lyophilized powder of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1) (ITEA, product name "Cedar Pollen Extract, Code 10103") was dissolved in purified water to prepare an allergen solution containing 10 μg / mL of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1). PBS-T was then added to the allergen solution and mixed uniformly to prepare an allergen solution containing 15 ng / mL of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1).

[0128] A compound having a carboxy group of the type shown in Table 3 was supplied in a predetermined amount shown in Table 3 into a 1.5 mL tube. Next, 1 mL of the allergen solution was dropped into the tube, which was then sealed and left to stand for 2 hours at 25° C. Furthermore, a predetermined amount (mg) of an amino acid or a salt thereof or bovine serum albumin (BSA) of the type shown in Table 3 was supplied into the tube to prepare a test solution.

[0129] Next, the amount W1 (ng / mL) of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1) present in the test solution was measured by ELISA using a cedar pollen allergen measurement kit (ITEA, product name "Cedar Pollen Allergen (Cryj1) ELISA Kit, code 10204").

[0130] The amount of allergen present in the test solution, W0 (ng / mL), was measured in the same manner as above, except that the compound having a carboxy group, amino acid or its salt, or bovine serum albumin (BSA) was not added to the 1.5 mL tube. The allergen reduction rate (%) was calculated using the following formula and is shown in the "Reduction rate (%)" column in Table 3. Allergen reduction rate (%) = 100 - (W1 / W0) x 100

[0131] [Measurement of the effect of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1) on antibodies (drug)] An allergen solution was prepared in the same manner as in the measurement of the allergen reduction rate of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1) (drug).

[0132] A compound having a carboxy group of the type shown in Table 3 was supplied to a 1.5 mL tube in the specified amount shown in Table 3. Next, 1 mL of PBS-T was added dropwise to the tube, which was then sealed and left to stand at 25°C for 2 hours. Furthermore, a specified amount (mg) of an amino acid or a salt thereof or bovine serum albumin (BSA) of the type shown in Table 3 was supplied to the tube to prepare a test solution.

[0133] 100 μL of the test solution was dropped into wells of an antibody-immobilized 96-well plate included in the cedar pollen allergen measurement kit (ITEA, trade name "Cedar Pollen Allergen (Cryj1) ELISA Kit, code 10204") and allowed to stand for 1 hour at 25° C. Next, the wells were washed three times with PBS-T using a plate washer (Tecan, trade name "HydroFlexPlus").

[0134] Next, ELISA was performed using the above wells to measure the amount Z (ng / mL) of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1) present in the allergen solution containing 15 ng / mL of cedar pollen allergen (Cryj1). The effect (%) on the antibody was calculated based on the following formula and is shown in the "Antibody effect (%)" column in Table 3. Antibody effect (%) = 100 - (Z / 15) x 100

[0135]

[0136]

[0137]

[0138] The allergen reducing agent of the present invention exhibits an excellent allergen reducing effect and allows accurate measurement of the allergen amount by ELISA, thereby enabling the user to take appropriate measures based on the accurate allergen amount.

[0139] (Cross-reference to related applications) This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-062426, filed on April 8, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Claims

1. An allergen reducing agent comprising a compound having a carboxy group and at least one of a salt of an acidic amino acid and a basic amino acid.

2. An allergen reducing agent characterized by containing a total of 10 to 1,000 parts by mass of the salt of the acidic amino acid and the basic amino acid per 100 parts by mass of the compound having a carboxy group.

3. An allergen reducing agent according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the salt of the acidic amino acid includes a salt of glutamic acid or a salt of aspartic acid.

4. An allergen reducing agent according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the basic amino acid contains arginine or lysine.

5. An allergen reducing agent according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the compound having a carboxy group has multiple carboxy groups in the molecule.

6. An allergen reducing agent according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the compound having a carboxy group contains iminodiacetic acid, citric acid or polyacrylic acid.

7. An allergen reducing agent according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pH of a 0.5% by mass aqueous solution of the compound having a carboxy group at 25°C is 4.5 or less.

8. An allergen-reducing product comprising a substrate and the allergen-reducing agent according to claim 1 or 2 contained in or attached to the substrate.

9. A method for measuring allergen reduction, comprising: a reaction step of contacting a test specimen containing a compound having a carboxy group with an allergen solution containing an allergen; and a measurement step of measuring the antigenicity of the allergen contained in the allergen solution after the reaction step, characterized in that in the reaction step, a salt of an acidic amino acid or a basic amino acid is supplied to the test specimen or the allergen solution before or after contacting the allergen solution with the test specimen.

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