Abstract
Hypochlorous acid has a strong oxidizing activity and is widely used for various purposes such as sterilization and virus inactivation. In addition, hypochlorous acid can volatilize and remain in the air as gaseous hypochlorous acid while retaining its oxidizing activity. In this study, we investigated the effect of gaseous hypochlorous acid on the inactivation of Japanese cedar pollen and its allergen (Cry j 1), as well as the underlying mechanisms. Cry j 1 was exposed to gaseous hypochlorous acid, and its activity was assessed using dot blot analysis and sandwich ELISA. Further, SDS-PAGE and LC-MS/MS were used to evaluate any changes in the amino acid sequence of Cry j 1. The results confirmed that Cry j 1 was inactivated by hypochlorous acid exposure, which was attributed to the random cleavage of its peptide bonds. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that exposure of cedar pollen to gaseous hypochlorous acid resulted in the inactivation of its biological functions and suppressed the release of allergens.
