Tick exposures and alpha-gal syndrome: A systematic review of the evidence

Young, Ian; Prematunge, Chatura; Pussegoda, Kusala; Corrin, Tricia; Waddell, Lisa

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101674

Cited by 62 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Hod zi c et al (61) found that 50% of the banked serum samples from clinically healthy, naturally tick-infested dogs had detectable alpha-gal sIgE whose levels correlated with tick salivary gland protein sIgM and sIgE levels. These animal models of alpha-gal sensitization and allergy, coupled with observational studies of humans, support the idea that tick bites from clinically relevant species can induce alphagal sIgE, predisposing to the development of AGS (15).…”

Section: Sensitization Phase In Agssupporting

confidence: 59%

Where’s the Beef? Understanding Allergic Responses to Red Meat in Alpha-Gal Syndrome

Carson

Gardner

Iweala

2022

The Journal of Immunology

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Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) describes a collection of symptoms associated with IgE-mediated hypersensitivity responses to the glycan galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal). Individuals with AGS develop delayed hypersensitivity reactions, with symptoms occurring >2 h after consuming mammalian (“red”) meat and other mammal-derived food products. The mechanisms of pathogenesis driving this paradigm-breaking food allergy are not fully understood. We review the role of tick bites in the development of alpha-gal–specific IgE and highlight innate and adaptive immune cells possibly involved in alpha-gal sensitization. We discuss the impact of alpha-gal glycosylation on digestion and metabolism of alpha-gal glycolipids and glycoproteins, and the implications for basophil and mast cell activation and mediator release that generate allergic symptoms in AGS.

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Section: Sensitization Phase In Agssupporting

confidence: 59%

Where’s the Beef? Understanding Allergic Responses to Red Meat in Alpha-Gal Syndrome

Carson

Gardner

Iweala

2022

The Journal of Immunology

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“…Another pathology identified as a correlate of disease severity was glycogen storage disease type II, a lysosomal disease not previously related to COVID-19. The immunity to glycan Galα1-3Galβ1-(3)4GlcNAc-R (α-Gal), which was recently related to tick bites and allergic reactions to mammalian meat consumption (alpha-gal syndrome) ( 78 , 79 ), has been implicated in the protective response to COVID-19 ( 28 , 80 ). Complement component C3 and hemoglobin subunit beta (HBB) were associated with the immune response to α-Gal in the zebrafish animal model ( 81 ) and were both significantly overrepresented in COVID-19 patients when compared to healthy individuals ( Supplementary Data 1 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization by Quantitative Serum Proteomics of Immune-Related Prognostic Biomarkers for COVID-19 Symptomatology

et al. 2021

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The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 challenges the understanding of factors affecting disease progression and severity. The identification of prognostic biomarkers and physiological processes associated with disease symptoms is relevant for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic interventions to contribute to the control of this pandemic. To address this challenge, in this study, we used a quantitative proteomics together with multiple data analysis algorithms to characterize serum protein profiles in five cohorts from healthy to SARS-CoV-2-infected recovered (hospital discharge), nonsevere (hospitalized), and severe [at the intensive care unit (ICU)] cases with increasing systemic inflammation in comparison with healthy individuals sampled prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed significantly dysregulated proteins and associated biological processes and disorders associated to COVID-19. These results corroborated previous findings in COVID-19 studies and highlighted how the representation of dysregulated serum proteins and associated BPs increases with COVID-19 disease symptomatology from asymptomatic to severe cases. The analysis was then focused on novel disease processes and biomarkers that were correlated with disease symptomatology. To contribute to translational medicine, results corroborated the predictive value of selected immune-related biomarkers for disease recovery [Selenoprotein P (SELENOP) and Serum paraoxonase/arylesterase 1 (PON1)], severity [Carboxypeptidase B2 (CBP2)], and symptomatology [Pregnancy zone protein (PZP)] using protein-specific ELISA tests. Our results contributed to the characterization of SARS-CoV-2–host molecular interactions with potential contributions to the monitoring and control of this pandemic by using immune-related biomarkers associated with disease symptomatology.

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“…Besides mammalian meat allergy, tick bite can induce anaphylaxis in cancer patients treated with the drug called Cetuximab. [40] This medicine is a human-murine hybrid monoclonal antibody containing both α-gal and Neu5Gc. [41,42] The originally planned mechanism of action of these antibodies is to bind and block the epidermal growth factor receptors and stop the progress of cancer.…”

Section: Neu5gc Pathogenesis Of Allergy: An Anticancer Mechanismmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[43] In the case of mammalian meat allergy the anaphylaxis appears after 3-6 h but for Cetuximab it is only 15 min. [40] The reason for this could be the fact that…”

Section: Neu5gc Pathogenesis Of Allergy: An Anticancer Mechanismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tick bite induced α‐gal syndrome highlights anticancer effect of allergy

Apari

Földvári

2021

BioEssays

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Tick bite induced α-gal syndrome (AGS) following consumption of mammalian meat is a recently described intriguing disease occurring worldwide. Here we argue that AGS and delayed allergy in general is an adaptive defence method against cancer. Our hypothesis synthesizes two lines of supporting evidence. First, allergy has been shown to have direct anti-cancer effects with unknown mechanism. Second, eating processed meat was shown to be linked to developing cancer. Humans lost their genes encoding molecules α-gal 30 MYA and Neu5Gc 2 MYA, the latter co-occurring with the start of using fire. These molecules are acquired from external sources, as tick bite for α-gal and mammalian meat for Neu5Gc, the latter accumulating in tumors. The resulting specific delayed allergic response is a molecular adaptation to fight cancer. By further testing and applying our hypothesis, new avenues in cancer research and therapy will open that might save lives and decrease human suffering.

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Tick exposures and alpha-gal syndrome: A systematic review of the evidence

Cited by 62 publications

References 46 publications

Where’s the Beef? Understanding Allergic Responses to Red Meat in Alpha-Gal Syndrome

Where’s the Beef? Understanding Allergic Responses to Red Meat in Alpha-Gal Syndrome

Characterization by Quantitative Serum Proteomics of Immune-Related Prognostic Biomarkers for COVID-19 Symptomatology

Tick bite induced α‐gal syndrome highlights anticancer effect of allergy

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