Abstract
In the Mediterranean area, lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are important causes of plant‐food allergies often associated with severe allergic reactions. There, peach LTP (Pru p 3) seems to be the primary sensitizer, whereas in Central Europe, little is known about the importance of LTP sensitization. In this region, allergen extract‐based diagnosis is often complicated by co‐sensitization to Bet v 1, the major birch pollen allergen, its cross‐reactive food allergens, and profilins. We investigated the role of LTP sensitization in Central European patients displaying strong allergic reactions to plant‐derived food. Analysis of IgE reactivity revealed that ten of thirteen patients were sensitized to Pru p 3, nine to Bet v 1, and two to profilin. Our results showed that LTP sensitization represents a risk factor for severe allergic symptoms in Central Europe. Furthermore, the strong IgE reactivity detected in immunoblots of plant‐food extracts indicated that Pru p 3 can be used as a marker allergen for LTP sensitization also in Central European patients.
Highlights
Nonspecific lipid transfer proteins are extremely stable, structurally highly conserved plant defense proteins, present throughout the whole plant kingdom.[1,2,3] LTPs have been identified as important, cross-reactive plant-food allergens in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and cereals
We investigated whether LTPs play a major role in Central European patients with severe reactions to plant-derived foods and whether Pru p 3 can serve as a diagnostic cross-reactive marker allergen in patients in this region
The importance of component-resolved diagnosis (CRD) for determination of plant-derived food allergy is underlined by our finding that the majority of the Pru p 3-positive patients were positive for Bet v 1 (60%), and consistent with the recommendations of the EAACI for food allergy and anaphylaxis.[18]
Summary
Nonspecific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) are extremely stable, structurally highly conserved plant defense proteins, present throughout the whole plant kingdom.[1,2,3] LTPs have been identified as important, cross-reactive plant-food allergens in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and cereals (reviewed in 4 and 5). We investigated whether LTPs play a major role in Central European patients with severe reactions to plant-derived foods and whether Pru p 3 can serve as a diagnostic cross-reactive marker allergen in patients in this region
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