Abstract

Allergic diseases are a major health concern worldwide. Pollens are important triggers for allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis and asthma. Proteases released upon pollen grain hydration appear to play a major role in the typical immunological and inflammatory responses that occur in patients with allergic disorders. In this study, we aimed to identify specific proteolytic activity in a set of pollens with diverse allergenic potential. Diffusates from Chenopodium album, Plantago lanceolata and Eucalyptus globulus were added to a confluent monolayer of Calu-3 cells grown in an air-liquid interface system. We identified serine proteases and metalloproteinases in all pollen diffusates investigated. Proteases found in these pollen diffusates were shown to compromise the integrity of the lung epithelial barrier by disrupting transmembrane adhesion proteins E-cadherin, claudin-1 and Occludin, as well as, the cytosolic complex zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) resulting in a time-dependent increase in transepithelial permeability. Tight junction disruption and increased transepithelial permeability facilitates allergen exposure to epithelial sub-layers contributing to the sensitization to a wide range of allergens. These pollen extracts also induced an increase in the release of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) cytokines measured by flow cytometry possibly as a result of the activation of protease-activated receptors 2 (PAR-2).

Highlights

  • Pollen allergy has a clinical impact all over the world

  • We previously showed that the proteolytic activity of pollen diffusates from Olea europea, Dactylis glomerata, Cupressus sempervirens and

  • This study focused on three pollen species that have different immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated allergenic capacities, Chenopodium album, Plantago lanceolata and Eucalyptus globulus [10]

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Summary

Introduction

Pollen allergy has a clinical impact all over the world. The prevalence and severity of respiratory allergic reactions induced by pollens have increased [2,3,4,5,6,7]. The majority of patients display adverse reactions upon contact with pollen allergens fostering the need for further studies of different types of pollens. The most clinically relevant allergenic pollens in Europe are grass pollen followed by Betula alba, Alnus incana, Corylus avellana, Platanus vulgaris, Cupressus sempervirens, Olea europaea, Artemisia vulgaris, Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Parietaria Judaica [8]. We previously showed that the proteolytic activity of pollen diffusates from Olea europea, Dactylis glomerata, Cupressus sempervirens and

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