Profilin, a Change in the Paradigm

Abstract

Profilin is a protein that is present in all eukaryotic cells and is responsible for cross-reactivity between pollen, latex, and plant foods. It has been classically acknowledged as a minor or nearly irrelevant allergen, although recent data are changing this conception. The objective of this manuscript is to provide a comprehensive review of published data on the role of this ubiquitous allergen in pollen, latex, and plant food allergy. The patterns of recognition of this minor allergen follow a north-south gradient. Although present in all pollens and vegetables, profilin is significantly associated with allergy to grass pollen and to Cucurbitaceae fruits. Heb v 8, the latex profilin, is usually a marker of profilin allergy in plant food-allergic patients, although it has no clinical relevance in latex allergy. Sensitization to profilin jeopardizes the diagnosis of pollen allergy and selection of immunotherapy, and although component-resolved diagnosis can identify its impact, there are no tailored treatments available. In recent years, several new publications have shown how profilin should be taken into account and, under certain circumstances, considered a marker of severity, an allergen capable of inducing respiratory symptoms, and, in its natural purified form, a potential candidate for etiological treatment of food allergy. Current data on profilin strongly support the need for a shift in the previously accepted paradigm for this allergen. More research should be done to assess the real clinical impact of sensitization in specific populations and to develop therapeutic strategies.

Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Receptor S Acts as a Metastatic Suppressor in Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor via Profilin 1-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

“…Profilin 1 is a member of profilin family of small ABP, which ubiquitously expressed in various types of cells ( Rodriguez Del Rio et al, 2018 ). Profilin 1 played an important role in regulation of actin polymerization and cytoskeleton remodeling ( Stritt et al, 2018 ).…”

Allergen Immunotherapy in Children User’s Guide

“…PR10 allergy is triggered by previous sensitization to birch pollen major allergen Bet v 1. Profilin is present in all pollens, but food allergy mediated by profilin is strongly associated with grass pollen counts and is increasingly relevant with the increase of grass pollen exposure levels . The evidence of the potential role of AIT as a therapeutic or preventive strategy for PR10 or profilin‐mediated pollen food allergy syndrome in children is inconclusive.…”

“…However, sensitization to profilin ranks from 5% to 60%, being strongly associated with the intensity of grass pollen counts in the area . In the last decades, a progressive increase in profilin prevalence among pediatric patients has been reported . Interestingly, clinical reactivity to profilin is a good model to understand how differential exposure levels to pollens may lead to a diversity of clinical phenotypes, with effect in T‐cell reactivity, barrier disruption, and systemic biomarker signatures .…”

Multi‐omics analysis points to altered platelet functions in severe food‐associated respiratory allergy

“…In fact, some grass pollen‐allergic patients resident in highly exposed regions can develop severe food allergic reactions mediated by profilin, a type of reaction hardly seen in other grass pollen‐exposed territories. Profilin has proved to be a clinically relevant aeroallergen able to induce strong T‐cell proliferation . Recently, it has been proved that evolution toward severity in the profilin food allergy model is associated with a progressive rise in effector cell sensitivity, immune cells infiltration in the epithelia, and structural remodeling of the oral mucosa .…”