title: English plantain and psyllium: lack of cross-allergenicity by crossed immunoelectrophoresis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  English plantain (Plantago lanceolata) weed pollen and psyllium (Plantago ovata) husk dust are inhalant allergens. Because of the phylogenetic relationship between these plant species, cross-allergenicity has been a concern.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible cross-allergenicity of plantain and psyllium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Homologous and heterologous crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) were performed using a commercial English plantain pollen extract and an extract of psyllium seed embryo. Crossed radioimmunoelectrophoresis (CRIE) was performed using sera from subjects who were RAST positive only to plantain (group A), RAST positive only to psyllium (group B), RAST positive to both plantain and psyllium (group C), or RAST negative to both (group D).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the group A plantain subjects showed IgE binding to at least one of the six plantain allergens in homologous plantain CRIEs while only one of the sera from the group B subjects reacted very weakly to these plantain allergens. In homologous psyllium CRIE, all group B subjects showed pronounced IgE binding to 2 to 7 of the seven psyllium allergens. Several of the plantain subjects demonstrated only very weak binding to psyllium allergens. Heterologous CRIEs demonstrated little relevant IgE binding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that there is little cross-allergenicity between psyllium husk and English plantain pollen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Arlian
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Vyszenski-Moher
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deyo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawabata
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Caldas
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology; D007123:Immunoelectrophoresis, Two-Dimensional; D010943:Plantago / Q000276:immunology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011620:Psyllium / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007106:Immune Sera; D011620:Psyllium