A 17-kDa allergen detected in pine nuts.
BACKGROUND
Few cases of allergy to pine nuts have been described. We report a case of anaphylactic reaction to pine nuts. The patient needed to be treated in the emergency room due to a systemic reaction immediately after eating pine nuts.


METHODS
The patient was studied by prick tests and prick by prick tests. Specific IgE was measured by CAP and by SDS-PAGE/immunoblotting by a diffusion method.


RESULTS
The patient showed positive prick by prick tests to pine nuts (12 mm of maximum wheal diameter). Specific IgE was positive (0.79 kU/l). The patient's serum recognized several proteins by immunoblot. However, a 17-kDa allergen band was detected with high intensity. This protein was found to be sensitive to reducing agents, losing its IgE-binding properties after reduction.


CONCLUSIONS
The patient presented an IgE-mediated reaction and detected a 17-kDa protein from pine nuts not previously described.
García-Menaya
J M
JM
Allergy Department, Hospital Infanta Cristina, Badajoz, Spain.
Gonzalo-Garijo
M A
MA
Moneo
I
I
Fernández
B
B
García-González
F
F
Moreno
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009754:Nuts / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D010940:Plant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E