Important Cause Of Pollinosis Research Articles

Identification, isolation, and characterization of Ole e 7, a new allergen of olive tree pollen

Background: Olive tree ( Olea europaea ) pollen is an important cause of pollinosis in countries of the Mediterranean area and California. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify and purify a new allergen of olive tree pollen. Methods: Detection of a pollen allergen was done with individual allergic sera by immunoblotting and ELISA tests. Two allergenic fractions were isolated from olive pollen extract by using gel filtration and reverse-phase HPLC. Molecular characterization was achieved by acid hydrolysis and amino acid analysis, as well as by mass spectrometry. Sequencing of the N-terminal end of the allergen was carried out by Edman degradation of the polypeptide chain. Allergenic characterization was performed with sera from subjects with olive allergy by means of ELISA and immunoblotting after SDS-PAGE. Results: The new allergen Ole e 7 exhibits a high degree of polymorphism. Its molecular mass is in the range of 9875 d to 10,297 d. Twenty-one amino acid residues from the N-terminal end of 2 isoforms of the allergen have been sequenced revealing no homology with proteins contained in database banks. Ole e 7 has an average frequency of about 47% in patients with olive allergy. The strategy of purification of Ole e 7 can be useful on the isolation of new allergens. Conclusions: A new olive pollen allergen of clinical significance has been purified and characterized, contributing to the study of the complete allergogram of the olive tree pollen. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;104:797-802.)

Identification and characterization of the major allergen of the Humulus japonicus pollen.

Pollen of Humulus japonicus has been known as one of the important causes of pollinosis in Korea and China. To date, the major allergen of H. japonicus has not been determined. To identify the major allergen of H. japonicus pollen and characterize its biochemical properties. With the sera of 29 patients reactive to H. japonicus, the major allergen of H. japonicus was determined from the results of IgE immunoblotting and ELISA inhibition. The biochemical properties of the major allergen of H. japonicus were evaluated by lectin blotting assay and 2-dimensional PAGE blot. N-terminal amino acid sequences were determined by the Edman degradation method. The suggested major allergen was purified by DEAE anion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. Twenty-nine sera contained IgE bound to the 10, 16, 20, 29 and 42 kDa proteins of H. japonicus in immunoblot analysis. A protein of 10 kDa was the most prevalent allergen in the sera of H. japonicus-reactive patients (72%). The ELISA optical density of H. japonicus-specific IgE was not inhibited by pollen extracts of birch, oak, rye grass and mugwort. The 10-kDa allergen was neither stained with PAS nor bound with ConA and five other lectins. The isoelectric point of the 10-kDa allergen was approximately pH 5.1. We sequenced the N-terminal amino acids of the 10-kDa allergen, which was not homologous with any previously characterized allergen. The 10-kDa allergen could be purified with DEAE anion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. Maximum inhibitions of H. japonicus-specific IgE ELISA by whole extract of H. japonicus and purified 10-kDa allergen were more than 97 and 88%, respectively, while the 50% inhibitory concentration of the whole extract of H. japonicus and purified 10 kDa were 38 and 20 ng/mL, respectively. The 10-kDa peptide could be a major allergen of H. japonicus. Its isoelectric point was 5.1 and it did not bind with lectins. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the 10-kDa major allergen was also determined.

Platanus pollen as an important cause of pollinosis

Objective: The existence of Platanus pollinosis is not generally accepted despite the production of very large quantities of airborne Platanus pollen in many cities of the United States and Europe. The aim of this study was to investigate if Platanus pollen really contributes to the symptoms of the patients with pollinosis in the Madrid area. Methods: We carried out systematic skin prick testing with Platanus pollen extract on 47 patients seen in our allergy center with spring-summer pollinosis symptoms. Each patient maintained symptom score diaries before, during, and after the Platanus pollination season. The average symptom scores were calculated and compared with the Platanus pollen counts. Measurements of specific IgE by ELISA and immunoblotting also were performed in each patient. Results: The Platanus skin tests were positive in 33 of the 39 patients first seen with seasonal symptoms during Platanus pollen season and only in three of the eight patients without symptoms during Platanus exposure (Fisher's exact test; p < 0.05). Twenty-two of the 33 Platanus-positive skin test patients also had a positive ELISA result. Furthermore, the average 24-hour rhinitis symptom scores of the 39 patients first seen with seasonal symptoms during March through April showed significant correlation with Platanus pollen counts ( r s = 0.57, p < 0.05). The immunoblot results suggest that a 17 kd pollen protein could be a major allergen in patients with Platanus pollinosis. Conclusions: Platanus pollen is an important cause of pollinosis in Madrid. A protein with a molecular weight of 17 kd appeared to be its major allergen.

Allergenic pollen and pollinosis in Madrid

Objective: A 15-year pollen count was performed in the atmosphere of Madrid, Spain, to determine the months in which the highest concentrations of allergenic pollens occur. Methods: Pollen counts were done with a Burkard spore trap (Burkard Manufacturing, Rickmansworth, Herst., U.K.). The results were subsequently compared with results of skin tests in patients with pollinosis born and living in and around Madrid. Results: The highest airborne presence (percent of total yearly pollen counts, mean of counts from 1979 to 1993) was for Quercus spp. (17%); followed by Platanus spp. (15%), Poaceae (15%), Cupressaceae (11%), Olea spp. (9%), Pinus spp. (7%), Populus spp. (4%), and Plantago spp. (4%). The most predominant pollens from January to April are tree pollens (Cupressaceae, Alnus, Fraxinus, Ulmus, Populus, Platanus, and Morus), although these are also abundant in May and June ( Quercus, Olea, and Pinus spp.). The grass pollination period shows a double curve: the first peak occurs from February to April (8% of yearly grasses), and the second peak occurs from May to July (90% of yearly grasses). Among allergenically significant weeds, the most notable is Plantago; in contrast, Rumex, Urticaceae, Cheno-Amaranthaceae, and Artemisia spp. have very low concentrations (≤2% yearly total pollens). The most significant allergenic pollen is that of grasses, with a prevalence of positive prick test results of 94%, followed by Olea europaea (61%), Plantago lagopus (53%), Platanus hybrida (52%), and Cupressus arizonica (20%). Conclusion: The population of Madrid is exposed to high concentrations of allergenic pollen from February to July, although the most intense period is from May to June. Grass pollens are the most important cause of pollinosis in this area. ( J Allergy Clin Immunol 1995;96:15-23.)

Pollinosis in Europe: New observations and developments

Recent comparative aeropalynological and allergological studies on pollinosis in Europe have led to some confirmative and new results. Grass pollen is, indeed, by far the most important cause of pollinosis (“hay fever”) during early summer, although it is not the most abundant airborne pollen type in all European regions. Pollen from deciduous trees, like Betula, is causing pollinosis during the spring, not only in Scandinavia, but also in other European regions. Pollen from some anemophilous weeds, like Parietaria, is of great regional significance for pollinosis in south European regions. A European Aero-allergen Network for information services for specialists and the public is being prepared.

QUANTITATIVE AEROPALYNOLOGY IN THE ATMOSPHERE OF TIMISOARA CITY, ROMANIA

Many airborne pollen grains and fungal spores are important biopollutants responsible for human respiratory allergy. In the conditions of România the most important cause of pollinosis is allergenic pollen of some deciduous trees as well as grasses and weeds. The measurements of pollen concentration in the aeroplankton of Timişoara were carried out in 2003 by the volumetric method. The highest concentrations are noted in April and August. A total of 23 types of pollen taxa were recorded in the air of the study area in the 2003-year: Acer, Alnus, Ambrosia, Artemisia, Betula, Carpinus, Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae, Corylus, Fraxinus, Juglans, Morus, Pinaceae, Platanus, Plantago, Populus, Poaceae, Rumex, Salix, Quercus, Taxaceae/Cupressaceae, Tilia, Urtica, Ulmus. The highest values of annual total of pollen grains in a group of trees were reached by Populus and Betula, as well as in a group of grasses and weeds – Ambrosia, Urtica and Poaceae. Trees pollen predominantly contributed to the total pollen sum with a percentage of 53.56%, followed by herbs 37.54% and grasses 8.9%.