Grass pollen sensitization in dogs in Paraná, Brazil: comparison between percutaneous and intradermal testing / [Sensibilização a polens em cães no Paraná, Brasil: comparação entre o teste percutâneo e o teste intradérmico]

Canine atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory, genetic, pruritic and chronic dermatosis that affects between 10 and 30% of dogs and one of the most important allergens is grass pollen. The objective of this study was to evaluate the sensitization to grass pollen allergens in dogs with canine atopic dermatitis and to compare intradermal skin test (IDT) with percutaneous test (PT). For this study, ten healthy dogs and 39 dogs with atopic dermatitis were tested. Dogs were submitted to IDT and PT for Lolium multiflorum, Cynodon dactylon and Paspalum notatum. The IDT and PT tests were compared using the Proportion Test. All healthy dogs were negative to both tests. Ten atopic dogs (25.6%) responded positively to the PT and none were positive in IDT. C. dactylon, L. multiflorum and P. notatum were responsible for positive reactions in 70%, 70% and 30% of positive dogs, respectively. The number of positive reactions in PT were statistically higher than IDT (P<0.05). In conclusion, grass pollen can be important source of allergens for dogs in Paraná state (Brazil) and the PT showed higher sensitization to grass pollen in dogs with atopic dermatitis than IDT.(AU)

A dermatite atópica canina é uma dermatose inflamatória, genética, prurítica e crônica que afeta entre 10% e 30% dos cães, e um dos alérgenos mais importantes são os polens de gramíneas. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar a sensibilização a alérgenos de polens de gramíneas em cães com dermatite atópica e comparar o teste intradérmico (TID) com o teste percutâneo (TP). Para o estudo, 10 cães hígidos e 39 cães com dermatite atópica foram testados. Estes foram submetidos ao TID e ao TP para Lolium multiflorum, Cynodon dactylon e Paspalum notatum. TID e TP foram comparados usando-se o teste de proporção. Todos os cães hígidos foram negativos em ambos os testes. Dez cães atópicos (25,6%) responderam positivamente ao TP e nenhum ao TID. C. dactylon, L. multiflorum e P. notatum foram responsáveis por reações positivas de 70%, 70% e 30% dos cães positivos, respectivamente. O número de reações positivas no TP foi estatisticamente maior que no TID (P<0,05). Foi concluído que os polens de gramíneas podem ser importantes fontes de alérgenos para cães no estado do Paraná (Brasil) e que o TP mostrou maior sensibilização a polens em cães com dermatite atópica que o TID.(AU)

Molecular diagnosis and immunotherapy selection in a Portuguese population sensitized to grass and olive pollens / Diagnóstico molecular e seleção de imunoterapia numa população portuguesa sensibilizada ao pólen de gramíneas e de oliveira

Introduction: Phleum pratense (Phl p) and Olea europaea (Ole e) are common allergenic pollen. Objectives: To describe the sensitization patterns to Phl p and Ole e allergens in a subset of allergic rhinitis patients with positive skin prick tests (SPTs) to these pollens and compare the allergen immunotherapy (AIT) choice before and after determination of molecular components. Methods: Candidates to pollen immunotherapy with positive SPTs to both Phl p and Ole e were recruited. All of them underwent an SPT with a panel of aeroallergens and measurements of serum specific IgE (sIgE) to Phl p, Ole e, Phl p1, Phl p5, Phl p7, Phl p12, Ole e1, Ole e7, and Bet v2. Results: Forty adults were included. Of these, 83% and 65% were sIgE-positive to Phl p and Ole e, using the 0.35 kUA/L and 0.70 kUA/L cut-offs, respectively. Moreover, 42.5% of patients had positive sIgE to Phl p1 and/or Phl p5, 2.5% only to Ole e1, and 47.5% to both (0.35 kUA/L cutoff). By increasing the cut-off to 0.7 kUA/L, 55% of patients were sensitized to Phl p1 and/or Phl p5, and no patient was sensitized only to Ole e1. After component-resolved diagnosis, AIT choice was changed in 15 (37.5%) patients, with a decrease in the number of prescriptions of AIT with both grass and olive pollens and with olive alone, together with an increase in the prescriptions of AIT with grass pollen alone. Conclusion: Genuine sensitization to Olea europaea was reduced, and the sensitization patterns were heterogeneous. Knowledge of pattern of sensitization to molecular components changed immunotherapy prescription in more than one third of the patients.

Introdução: Os polens de Phleum pratense (Phl p) e de Olea europaea (Ole e) são fontes alergênicas comuns. Objetivos: Descrever os padrões de sensibilização aos alergênios destes dois polens num subconjunto de pacientes com rinite alérgica polínica e comparar a escolha de imunoterapia, antes e depois da determinação de alergênios moleculares para Phl p e Ole e. Métodos: Foram recrutados candidatos para imunoterapia com polens, com testes cutâneos positivos para Phl p e Ole e. Todos realizaram um painel de testes em picada a aeroalergênios e determinação de IgE séricas específicas para Phl p, Ole e, rPhl p1, rPhl p5, rPhl p7, rPhl p 12, rOle e 1, nOle e 7, rBet v2. Resultados: Foram incluídos 40 adultos. Em relação à sIgE para Phl p e Ole e, 83% e 65% dos pacientes apresentaram positividade para ambos, usando o cut-off de 0,35 kUA/L e 0,70 kUA/L, respectivamente. A positividade para Phl p1 e/ou Phl p 5 foi encontrada em 42,5%, para Ole e 1 apenas em 2,5%, enquanto 47,5% apresentaram sIgE positivo para ambos (cut-off corte de 0,35 kUA/L). Aumentando o cut-off para 0,7 kUA/L, 55% foram sensibilizados para Phl p1 e/ou Phl p5, nenhum paciente foi sensibilizado apenas para Ole e 1. Após a determinação dos alergênios para os componentes moleculares, a escolha de imunoterapia foi alterada em 15 (37,5%) pacientes, com uma diminuição no número de vacinas para Phleum + Olea e apenas para Olea e um aumento na prescrição de vacinas para Phleum. Conclusão: A sensibilização genuína do Olea europaea foi reduzida e os padrões de sensibilização foram heterogêneos. O conhecimento da sensibilização aos componentes moleculares dos alergênios mudou a prescrição de imunoterapia em mais de um terço dos pacientes.

Partial Characterization of bermuda, carabao, cogon, and talahib grass pollen extracts

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>BACKGROUND</strong>: Grass pollen grains are important causes of respiratory allergies. The Philippines has a different grass flora compared to that of western countries, so pollen extracts have to be processed for use in the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory allergies. The local pollen extracts available in clinical practice have not yet been characterized, which is important in improving extract quality.<br /><strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> This study aims to perform physicochemical characterization through protein content determination and gradient sodium-dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of extracts from four grasses: Cynodon dactylon (bermuda grass), Axonopus compressus (carabao grass), Imperata cylindrica (cogon), and Saccharum spontaneum (talahib) and immunologic characterization by identifying its IgE-binding component through immunoblot.<br /><strong>METHODS</strong>: This is a descriptive study. The pollen grains were processed into allergen extracts and protein contents were determined. The extracts were separated by gradient SDS-PAGE and subjected to immunoblotting. Bands were visualized using Fluorchem C2 aided with Alpha View Software.<br /><strong>RESULTS:</strong> Total protein in the pollen extracts ranged from 281.3-968.61 µg/ml. Protein bands of bermuda were in the 14.4-66.3 kDa range, carabao grass at 3.5-66.3 kDa, cogon at 3.5-200 kDA, and talahib at 21.5-66.3 kDa. A single IgE-binding protein band was seen on immunoblot at 55.4 kDa using a single serum sample.<br /><strong>CONCLUSION</strong>: Protein contents of the allergen extracts vary. The molecular weights of the different protein bands seem to correspond to known groups of grass pollen allergens. There was only one IgE-binding protein band seen on preliminary immunoblot.</p>

Immunobiological characteristic of grass pollen allergens / Монголын Анагаах Ухаан

Grass pollens are one of the most important airborne allergen sources worldwide. The Poaceaefamily comprises about 9000 species, 20 species from five subfamilies are considered to be the mostfrequent causes of grass pollen allergy, and the allergenic relationships among them closely follow theirphylogenetic relationships. The allergic immune response to pollen of several grass species has beenstudied extensively over more than three decades. Eleven groups of allergens have been identified anddescribed, in most cases from more than one species. The most complete set of allergens has so farbeen isolated and cloned from Phleum pratense (timothy grass) pollen. Based on the prevalence of IgEantibody recognition among grass pollen-sensitized individuals, several allergens qualify as major, butmembers of two groups, groups 1 and 5, have been shown to dominate the immune response to grasspollen extract. Isoform variation has been detected in members of several of the allergen groups, whichin some cases can be linked to observed genetic differences. N-linked glycosylation occurs in membersof at least three groups. Carbohydrate- reactive IgE antibodies have been attributed to grass pollensensitization and found to cross-react with glycan structures from other allergen sources, particularlyvegetable foods. Another cause of extensive cross-reactivity are the group 12 allergens (profilins), whichbelong to a family of proteins highly conserved throughout the plant kingdom and present in all tissues.Members of eight allergen groups have been cloned and expressed as recombinant proteins capableof specific IgE binding. This development now allows diagnostic dissection of the immune response tograss pollen with potential benefits for specific immunotherapy.

A Case of Occupational Rhinitis Induced by Maize Pollen Exposure in a Farmer: Detection of IgE-Binding Components

Corn is a major staple food, along with rice and wheat, in many parts of the world. There are several reports of hypersensitivity to maize pollen. However, cases of occupational allergic rhinitis induced by inhalation of maize pollen are very rare. We herein report the case of a 67-year-old male with occupational rhinitis caused by occupational exposure to maize pollen in a cornfield. He showed positive responses to maize pollen, as well as grass pollens, in skin prick tests. A high level of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) specific to maize pollen extracts was detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Laboratory tests showed a high serum level of total IgE (724 kU/L) and a high level of IgE specific to maize pollen (8.32 kU/L) using the Immuno-CAP system. Occupational rhinitis was confirmed by a nasal provocation test with maize pollen extracts. IgE ELISA inhibition tests showed antibody cross-reactivity between maize pollen and grass pollen extracts. IgE immunoblotting using maize pollen extracts demonstrated a 27 kDa IgE-binding component. These findings suggest that maize pollen can induce IgE-mediated occupational rhinitis in exposed workers.

Immunoglobulin E-binding reactivities of natural pollen grain extracts from selected grass species in the Philippines

BACKGROUND: Pollen grains have been reported to be present in the Philippine atmosphere but studies regarding their allergenicity are limited. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to profile the sensitization of allergic individuals to selected grass pollen species and to characterize the pollen proteins that may be responsible for this allergenic response. METHODS: The protein profile of the grass pollen extracts from Cynodon dactylon, Saccharum spontaneum, Sporobulus indicus, Chloris barbata, Oryza sativa, Imperata cylindrica, and Zea mays was analyzed by Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis. The specific-IgE profile of the allergic individuals and the allergenic potential of the pollen extracts were evaluated through Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay and IgE immunoblotting. RESULTS: Sensitization of the allergic individuals to the pollen extracts was detected with I. cylindrica and O. sativa to be the most frequently recognized with more that 92% reactivity, whereas for C. dactylon and Z. mays, were found to have less than 25% reactivity. CONCLUSION: Multiple IgE-binding proteins from S. indicus, S. spontaneum and C. barbata that were detected may be responsible for the allergic reactions among Filipino subjects.

IgE cross-reactivity between Lolium multiflorum and commercial grass pollen allergen extracts in Brazilian patients with pollinosis

Lolium multiflorum (Lm) grass pollen is the major cause of pollinosis in Southern Brazil. The objectives of this study were to investigate immunodominant components of Lm pollen allergens and the cross-reactivity of IgE with commercial grass pollen allergen extracts. Thirty-eight serum samples from patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), 35 serum samples from patients with perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) and 30 serum samples from non-atopic subjects were analyzed. Allergen sensitization was evaluated using skin prick test and serum IgE levels against Lm pollen extract were determined by ELISA. Inhibition ELISA and immunoblot were used to evaluate the cross-reactivity of IgE between allergens from Lm and commercial grass pollen extracts, including L. perenne (Lp), grass mix I (GI) and II (GII) extracts. IgE antibodies against Lm were detected in 100 percent of SAR patients and 8.6 percent of PAR patients. Inhibition ELISA demonstrated IgE cross-reactivity between homologous (Lm) and heterologous (Lp or GII) grass pollen extracts, but not for the GI extract. Fifteen IgE-binding Lm components were detected and immunoblot bands of 26, 28-30, and 32-35 kDa showed >90 percent recognition. Lm, Lp and GII extracts significantly inhibited IgE binding to the most immunodominant Lm components, particularly the 55 kDa band. The 26 kDa and 90-114 kDa bands presented the lowest amount of heterologous inhibition. We demonstrated that Lm extract contains both Lm-specific and cross-reactive IgE-binding components and therefore it is suitable for measuring quantitative IgE levels for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in patients with pollinosis sensitized to Lm grass pollen rather than other phylogenetically related grass pollen extracts.

Construction of humulus scandens pollen major allergen pcDNA3.1-LC2 DNA vaccine and study of its immunogenicity in mice / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

Objective To construct humulus scandens pollen major allergen DNA vaccine pcDNA-LC2 and evaluate its immunogenicity. Methods Humulus scandens pollen allergen gene was digested from recombinant plasmid pTripIEx2-LC2 by EcoRⅠ and HindⅢ of restriction endonuclease, and then inserted into expression vector pcDNA3.1(-). A large amount of endotoxin pcDNA3.1-LC2 purified plasmid was extracted after successful construction, and animal experiment was carried out to study its immunocompetence. Results Sequencing results showed that 672bp in the coding sequence of frames of recombinant pcDNA3.1-LC2 was in line with the original base line, without deletion or mutation. pcDNA3.1-LC2 of pollen allergen humulus scandens allergen vaccinated BALB/c mice. Double immunodiffusion test showed that pcDNA3.1-LC2 could be expressed and produce antibodies in mice. Conclusion Humulus scandens grass pollen major allergen DNA vaccine pcDNA3.1-LC2 has been successfully constructed. It can be expressed in mice, produces humulus scandens grass pollen allergen specific antibody and has a good immunogenicity.

A Case of Occupational Rhinitis Caused by Rice Powder in the Grain Industry

Rice is the major staple food in a large part of the world, especially in Asia. Hypersensitivity reactions to rice are rare. Moreover, cases of occupational allergies induced by inhalation of rice powder are uncommon. We report a 31-year-old male with work-related rhinitis and conjunctivitis symptoms caused by occupational exposure to rice powder in the grain industry. He showed positive responses to rice extracts on a skin prick test, and a high level of serum specific IgE to rice was detected by ELISA. Occupational rhinitis was confirmed by a nasal provocation test with rice extracts. An IgE ELISA inhibition test showed cross-creativity between rice and various grass pollen extracts. These findings suggest that the inhalation of rice powder can induce IgE-mediated occupational rhino-conjunctivitis, which may be derived from cross-reactivity to major grass pollens.

A Case of Occupational Rhinitis Caused by Rice Powder in the Grain Industry

Rice is the major staple food in a large part of the world, especially in Asia. Hypersensitivity reactions to rice are rare. Moreover, cases of occupational allergies induced by inhalation of rice powder are uncommon. We report a 31-year-old male with work-related rhinitis and conjunctivitis symptoms caused by occupational exposure to rice powder in the grain industry. He showed positive responses to rice extracts on a skin prick test, and a high level of serum specific IgE to rice was detected by ELISA. Occupational rhinitis was confirmed by a nasal provocation test with rice extracts. An IgE ELISA inhibition test showed cross-creativity between rice and various grass pollen extracts. These findings suggest that the inhalation of rice powder can induce IgE-mediated occupational rhino-conjunctivitis, which may be derived from cross-reactivity to major grass pollens.