title: Allergens from birch pollen and pollen of the European chestnut share common epitopes.
abstract: Type I allergy to pollen of the European chestnut (Castanea sativa) represents a major cause of pollinosis in (sub) Mediterranean areas. Using sera from 14 patients with established allergy to pollen of the European chestnut, 13/14 sera (92%) showed IgE-binding to a 22 kD protein, 2/14 (14%) displayed additional binding to a 14 kD protein and 1/14 (7%) bound only to the 14 kD protein of European chestnut pollen extract. Two monoclonal mouse antibodies, BIP 1 and BIP 4, directed against different epitopes of Bet v I (the major birch pollen allergen), and a rabbit antibody to recombinant birch profilin (rBet v II) were used to characterize the proteins of the European chestnut pollen. The recombinant birch pollen allergens, rBet v I and rBet v II (profilin) were employed to show common allergenic structures on proteins from both birch and European chestnut pollen by IgE-inhibition experiments. Despite the fact that the 22 kD protein displayed a higher molecular weight in comparison to the 17 kD major birch pollen allergen, Bet v I, we could demonstrate reactivity of both monoclonal antibodies, BIP 1 and BIP 4, with this protein. A complete inhibiton of IgE-binding to this 22 kD protein was shown by pre-incubating sera with purified recombinant Bet v I. In addition, the 14 kD protein could be identified by IgE-inhibition studies with recombinant Bet v II and by using a rabbit anti-profilin antibody as the profilin from pollen of the European chestnut.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, AKH, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hirschwehr
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jäger
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Horak
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valenta
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ebner
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kraft
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Scheiner
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003285:Contractile Proteins; D003429:Cross Reactions; D000939:Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D051304:Profilins; D011817:Rabbits; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D012621:Seasons; D016622:Silver Staining; D013045:Species Specificity; D014197:Trees
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D003285:Contractile Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D051304:Profilins; C061312:Bet v 1 allergen, Betula; D007073:Immunoglobulin E