Genetic restrictions in olive pollen allergy

Abstract

Background: The major antigen of olive tree pollen, Ole e 1, produces an IgE response restricted by DQ2. Objective: Our purpose was to further analyze the genetic restrictions associated with IgE and IgG antibodies against Ole e 1 and IgE against the recently described antigen Ole e 3. Methods: Twenty-two nuclear olive pollen–allergic families (n = 88) were selected. DRB1 and DQB1, TCR-Vα 8.1, the high-affinity receptor of IgE (FcϵRI-β) Rsa I exon 7 and intron 2 and TNF-β (LTα–Nco I) polymorphisms were determined by PCR and analyzed for association with allergic traits by the multiallelic transmission disequilibrium test. Results: Significant associations were found among HLA-DQB1*0201 (n = 29) and high levels of IgG (P = .023) and IgE (P = .0136) antibodies to Ole e 1 and with IgE specific to Ole e 3 (P = .0368). DRB1*0701 was associated with high levels of total serum IgE (P = .04) and IgG against Ole e 1 (P = .025). The FcϵRI-β Rsa I exon 7, allele 1 (n = 39), was associated with high levels of total serum IgE (P = .01), IgE antibodies against Olea europaea extract (P = .004), and specific antibodies to Ole e 1, IgG (P = .04), and IgE (P = .006). The FcϵRI-β Rsa I intron 2, allele 2 (n = 33), was associated with IgE antibodies to O europaea extract (P = .003) and specific antibodies to Ole e 1, IgG (P = .025), and IgE (P = .05). Conclusions: We found a new association between IgE antibody response to Ole e 3 and DQB1*0201 and verified the previously reported association between Ole e 1–specific response and DQB1*0201. Also, the association between FcϵRI-β and IgE antibodies against Ole e 1 was demonstrated. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2000;105:292-8.)