Allergen cross-reactivity between proteins of the latex from Hevea brasiliensis, seeds and pollen of Ricinus communis, and pollen of Mercurialis annua, members of the Euphorbiaceae family.
Allergen cross-reactions among three strongly sensitizing Euphorbiaceae species, i.e., the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), castor bean (Ricinus communis), and the Mediterranean weed Mercurialis annua were studied in Finnish patients (n = 25) allergic to natural rubber latex (NRL), but with no known exposure to castor bean or M. annua, and French patients allergic to castor bean (n = 26) or to M. annua (n = 9), but not to NRL. In immunoglobulin E (IgE)-immunoblotting, 28% of NRL-allergic patient sera recognized castor bean seed and 48% reacted to castor bean pollen proteins. Likewise, 35% of the NRL-allergic patient sera bound to M. annua pollen allergens. Nineteen percent of castor bean-allergic patients showed IgE to NRL and 8% to M. annua proteins. Sera from patients allergic to M. annua reacted in 44% to NRL, in 56% to castor bean seed, and in 78% to castor bean pollen proteins. In immunoblotting, castor bean seed extract inhibited the binding of NRL-reactive IgE to 20 kDa, 30 kDa of NRL, and 55 kDa of proteins; NRL extract, in turn, inhibited the binding of castor bean-reactive IgE to 14, 21-22, 29, and 32-34 kDa of castor bean proteins. In ELISA inhibition, NRL extract inhibited 33% of the binding of M. annua--reactive IgE of pooled sera to M. annua pollen. In conclusion, allergen cross-reactivity in vitro was observed among three botanically related Euphorbiaceae members, H. brasiliensis, R. communis, and M. annua, but the molecular specificity of the observed cross-reactions as well as their clinical significance remains to be elucidated. Allergen cross-reactivity should be taken into account in diagnostic work.
Palosuo
Timo
T
National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, FIN-00300 Helsinki, Finland.
Panzani
Raphaël C
RC
Singh
Anand B
AB
Ariano
Renato
R
Alenius
Harri
H
Turjanmaa
Kristiina
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002648:Child; D019665:Euphorbiaceae / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D028482:Hevea / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011058:Pollen / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D012276:Ricin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012276:Ricin