Human tissue kallikrein 9 in asthmatic patients

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

albumin in the ISAC test, confirming that IgE binding in the ISAC and ImmunoCap assays was not nonspecific in view of the patient’s elevated total IgE level. It is of interest that sensitivity to the Gal d 5 a-livetin serum albumin (molecular weight 69 kDa) is responsible for the bird-egg syndrome in egg yolk and bird feather extracts.2 Major allergenic bands of similar size to those identified in our patient to penguin serum (molecular weights 20e30 kDa and 67 kDa) have been found in IgE immunoblots of budgerigar, parrot, pigeon, canary, and hen sera, which cross-react with other bird species.3 Previous sensitization and pigeon serum proteins could have increased the risk of our patient’s reaction to cross-reacting or novel African penguin proteins, because the molecular weights identified in the penguin serum (25þ 66 kDa), mucus, and feces are similar to those identified in bird-egg syndrome and bird fanciers asthma, but this would require enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay inhibition studies for further exploration. One of the reasons for the decline in penguin populations has been the illegal consumption of penguin eggs by local populations. To date, allergy to penguin eggs has not yet been reported. Penguin serum albumin has a molecular weight of 66,000 kDa (identified to bovine serum albumin), and a unique pen albumin (61,000 kDa) in antarctic (eg, Adelie) penguin eggs has a high carbohydrate content (15%) and antifreeze properties.4 These proteins have not been characterized in the African penguin. Occupational contact dermatitis resulting from handling fish food (eg, herring in a dolphinarium)5 and other foods6 has been reported, andwe believe our patient’s chronic eczemawas acquired previously from fish handling without glove protection. The acquisition of work-related asthma to exposure to the penguins and their aerosolized feces in our patient indicates that atopy might be a risk factor for asthma development in penguin curators in aquariums around the world. It is recommended that penguin enclosures be well ventilated to decrease the risk of inhalation and sensitization and clinical allergy to penguin, but also to fish proteins, in atopic workers. Further characterization of the