Profilin Is a Cross-Reactive Allergen in Pollen and Vegetable Foods

Abstract

Sera with IgE antibodies against grass pollen often contain IgE against vegetable foods. We investigated the role of the ubiquitous protein profilin in this cross-reactivity. Profilin was purified from Lolium perenne grass pollen by means of affinity purification with Sepharose-coupled poly(L-proline). This solid phase was also used as capturing agent for profilin from pollen and food extracts for application in a radioallergosorbent test. It was shown that profilin is an allergen in grass pollen and in a wide range of vegetable foods, like potato and celery. Within a grass-pollen-sensitive population, patients with IgE to vegetable foods have a high incidence of antibodies against profilin. IgE antibodies against grass pollen profilin were shown to be cross-reactive with respect to vegetable foods.

Skin prick test analysis reveals cross-sensitization to tomato profilin and grass pollen in nasobronchialallergic patients with history of tomato food allergy

“…The association between sensitization to pollen and allergy to raw vegetables and fruits is well established (5,(9)(10)(11)(13)(14)(15)18). Understanding the spectrum of cross-reactive pollen-food allergies in different populations is required for the proper diagnosis and treatment of such allergic disorders.…”

“…Approximately 35% of patients with such types of pollinosis show hypersensitivity to antigenically-related fruits and vegetables (9)(10)(11)(12). Profilins (12-15 kDa) are a family of highly conserved plant pan-allergens (13)(14)(15). The ubiquitous occurrence of profilins in distantly-related plants provides a molecular basis for the frequently observed phenomenon of cross-sensitization towards unrelated plant species in allergic patients.…”

“…The ubiquitous occurrence of profilins in distantly-related plants provides a molecular basis for the frequently observed phenomenon of cross-sensitization towards unrelated plant species in allergic patients. Profilin was first identified as an allergen in birch pollen, and has since been shown to be present as a multigene panallergen family in many plants (13)(14)(15); it is described as a pan-allergen, because it was shown to be recognized by the serum IgE of > 20% of pollen-allergic patients (13)(14)(15). Profilins from tree, grass and weed pollens, many fruits and vegetables, and latex have been identified as cross-reactive allergens, and studied extensively (16)(17)(18).…”

Hypersensitivities to sesame and other common edible seeds

“…Eight sesame seed allergens have been characterized: Ses i 1 to Ses i 8 (67)(68)(69)(70)(71)(72)(73). The main (60-70%) protein component is 11S globulin which comprises two allergens Ses i 6 and Ses i 7 (73).…”

Food allergens

“…Another well-known vegetable protein in this category is profilin Calkhoven et al, 1987;Valenta et al, 1991Valenta et al, , 1992aVan Ree et al, 1992, 1995 for which pollen from grasses and trees as well as weeds are relatively common sensitizers, and raw vegetables are good elicitors (e.g. carrots).…”