The impact of age on Pru p 3 IgE production in Italy

BACKGROUND: Pollen allergy may be frequently associated with fruit-vegetables: the so-called pollen food syndrome. Pru p 3 is the most relevant peach allergen. Previously, it has been reported that serum specific IgE level to Pru p 3 depends on age in a limited geographic area. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to to test the hypothesis about the differences of Pru p 3 sensitization across Italy, mainly concerning the impact of age. METHODS: The current study was retrospective and multicentre, involving 2 labs in Northern Italy (709 subjects), 1 in Genoa (1,040 subjects), and 1 in Southern Italy (2,188 subjects). All of them referred to labs for IgE testing because of suspected food allergy. Serum IgE to Pru p 3 was assessed in all subjects. RESULTS: Sixteen point seven percent (16.7%) of subjects were sensitized to Pru p 3. Sensitization percentage sigificantly decreased over time. The serum IgE levels increased up to young adulthood and then decreased until aging. CONCLUSION: Our experience demonstrates that Pru p 3 sensitization and production are closely age-dependent phenomena.

The Age Impact on Serum Total and Allergen-Specific IgE

Aging is accompanied by a progressive decline in almost all functions of the immune system. To investigate a possible impact of age on IgE production, this study evaluated total and allergen-specific serum IgE levels in a large cohort of allergic patients. This study included 6,370 allergic patients (2,961 females, 3,409 males; mean age, 21.7 years; age range, 0-96 years). Total and allergen-specific serum IgE levels were measured by immunoenzymatic assay. The analysis of variance showed a significant difference (P<0.0001) in the mean value of total IgE among the different age groups of patients. Moreover, specific IgE levels for all allergens examined differed significantly among the age groups of patients (P<0.0001), with a specific trend pattern for each allergen. Total IgE increased with age, but allergen-specific IgE levels significantly decreased with age, with a trend specific for each allergen tested.

Serotonin in allergic rhinitis: a possible role for behavioural symptoms

Allergic rhinitis [AR] is a very frequent disease which is not only characterized by nasal symptoms, but also with behavioural changes. This study evaluated the serum serotonin levels in patients with pollen-induced AR during and outside the pollen season. One-hundred-two [56 females, 46 males, median age: 28.7 years] were included in this study: 56 with seasonal AR [SAR] evaluated outside the pollen season and so without allergic inflammation and symptoms, and 46 with SAR evaluated during the pollen season with symptoms. Blood specimens were collected to assess serum concentrations of serotonin and to compare results to scores of a Quality of Life [QoL] questionnaire which was performed in all subjects. Serotonin serum concentrations were higher in AR patients out of pollen season than in [p<0.01]. There was a very strong direct relationship between QoL and serotonin concentrations. This preliminary study demonstrates that SAR influences serotonin concentrations and that serum serotonin could serve as a biomarker in AR patients with behavioural symptoms