title: [Plant defense-related proteins as latex allergens].
abstract: Immediate-type allergic reactions to latex products made from natural rubber are called latex allergy. One of the notable features of latex-allergic people is their cross-reactivity to various vegetable foods and pollen. The structurally similar proteins which most kinds of plants potentially induce must be responsible for these cross-reactions. However, the taxonomical dissimilarity among the causative plants has kept us from concrete explanations of such cross-reactive allergens. We have speculated that plant defense-related proteins are a possible cause of the latex allergy. The well-known serologic relationships and sequence similarities of these ubiquitous plant proteins can explain the cross-reactivity without difficulty. Rubber trees cultured in plantation farms are repeatedly tapped and treated with phytohormones. These stresses would result in the significant induction of defense-related proteins. Indeed, we were able to detect defense-related enzymes in latex extracts. Moreover, three hydrolytic enzymes (beta-1,3-glucanase, chitinase/lysozyme, and carboxylesterase) that are very likely to take a defensive role were specifically recognized by the IgE antibodies of latex-allergic people and atopic patients. These experimental results strongly support our hypothesis. Because of their conserved structures, defense-related proteins should form a family of plant pan-allergens.
authors: yagami@nihs.go.jp
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Yagami
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D043182:Carboxylesterase; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000276:immunology; D002688:Chitinases / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D019665:Euphorbiaceae; D043326:Glucan 1,3-beta-Glucosidase; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D009113:Muramidase / Q000276:immunology; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D001617:beta-Glucosidase / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D010940:Plant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; D043182:Carboxylesterase; D002688:Chitinases; D009113:Muramidase; D001617:beta-Glucosidase; D043326:Glucan 1,3-beta-Glucosidase