title: Hypersensitivity to mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) in patients with peach allergy is due to a common lipid transfer protein allergen and is often without clinical expression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The observation of mugwort-specific IgE antibodies in patients with peach allergy suggests that mugwort sensitization might play a role in sensitization to peach.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to study the clinical manifestations of mugwort hypersensitivity in patients with peach allergy, identify the common allergens, and evaluate their IgE crossreactivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with oral allergy syndrome for peach and specific IgE antibodies to mugwort were investigated for respiratory symptoms during the mugwort season. Peach and mugwort allergens were identified by means of SDS-PAGE and IgE immunoblotting. Immunoblotting inhibition experiments were done to study cross-reactivity between peach and mugwort and other pollens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen patients were studied, 10 with no seasonal respiratory symptoms and 7 with clear late summer respiratory symptoms. In IgE immunoblotting the 10 asymptomatic patients reacted only to a 9-kd allergen of both mugwort and peach, whereas the 7 patients with pollinosis reacted to other allergens. Ten patients with mugwort allergy, no history of allergy to peach, and negative results for peach-specific IgE antibodies were also studied. The mugwort 9-kd protein was identified as a lipid transfer protein (LTP) homologous to peach LTP. Immunoblotting inhibition showed that IgE binding to the peach 9-kd band was totally inhibited by 4 microg of peach LTP but only by 400 microg of mugwort LTP, whereas 4 microg of both mugwort and peach LTP totally inhibited the mugwort immunoblotting. The results were similar with other pollens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients sensitized only to the 9-kd LTP of mugwort do not present hay fever symptoms, and this sensitization is a consequence of the peach sensitization.
authors.affiliation: Allergy Center, 3rd Division of General Medicine, Ospedale Maggiore IRCCS, Via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Elide A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Pastorello
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pravettoni
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Farioli
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rivolta
authors.forename: Amedeo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ispano
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fortunato
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bengtsson
authors.forename: Matilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bianchi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D019306:Artemisia / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D027861:Prunus / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; C511920:lipid transfer proteins, plant; D007073:Immunoglobulin E