title: Profilin is a cross-reactive allergen in pollen and vegetable foods.
abstract: Sera with IgE antibodies against grass pollen often contain IgE against vegetable foods. We investigated the role of the ubiquitous protein profilin in this cross-reactivity. Profilin was purified from Lolium perenne grass pollen by means of affinity purification with Sepharose-coupled poly(L-proline). This solid phase was also used as capturing agent for profilin from pollen and food extracts for application in a radioallergosorbent test. It was shown that profilin is an allergen in grass pollen and in a wide range of vegetable foods, like potato and celery. Within a grass-pollen-sensitive population, patients with IgE to vegetable foods have a high incidence of antibodies against profilin. IgE antibodies against grass pollen profilin were shown to be cross-reactive with respect to vegetable foods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy, Central Laboratory of The Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Amsterdam.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Ree
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Voitenko
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: van Leeuwen
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Aalberse
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000737:chemistry*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D003285:Contractile Proteins; D003429:Cross Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D006109:Poaceae / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D051304:Profilins; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D014675:Vegetables / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D003285:Contractile Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D051304:Profilins; C011083:polyproline; D007073:Immunoglobulin E