IgE to Bet v 1 and profilin: cross-reactivity patterns and clinical relevance.
BACKGROUND
Individuals with pollen allergy often have IgE against plant-derived foods. This can be due to cross-reactive IgE against Bet v 1 and homologues, profilins, and/or cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to correlate sensitization to Bet v 1 and profilin with individual recognition patterns to plant foods and clinical relevance.


METHODS
Fifty-two patients with pollen allergy and IgE against at least one plant-derived food were included in the study. Adverse reactions to plant-derived foods were documented by using standardized interviews. Skin prick tests were performed for pollen (grass, birch, and mugwort) and 14 plant-derived foods. In addition, recombinant (r) Bet v 1 and rBet v 2 (profilin) were tested intracutaneously. Specific IgE against the abovementioned allergens were determined by means of RAST. Cross-reactivity was studied by means of RAST inhibition.


RESULTS
Eighty-five percent of patients were sensitized to Bet v 1, and 71% were sensitized to profilin. Profilin was associated with a higher number of positive RAST results to plant-derived foods than Bet v 1. In contrast, Bet v 1 was associated with more positive skin prick test responses and more food-related symptoms. Sensitization to Bet v 1 was associated with IgE against apple, hazelnut, and peach, whereas sensitization to profilin was associated with positive RAST results to all investigated plant-derived foods except apple, peach, and melon.


CONCLUSIONS
IgE antibodies against Bet v 1 have a more limited spectrum of cross-reactivity than those against profilin, but they frequently give rise to clinically relevant cross-reactivities to food. In analogy to anticarbohydrate IgE, cross-reactive IgE against food profilins have no or very limited clinical relevance.
Department of Dermatology/Allergology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Marjolein
M
Wensing
Jaap H
JH
Akkerdaas
W Astrid
WA
van Leeuwen
Steven O
SO
Stapel
Carla A F M
CA
Bruijnzeel-Koomen
Rob C
RC
Aalberse
Bert J E G
BJ
Bast
André C
AC
Knulst
Ronald
R
van Ree
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D003285:Contractile Proteins; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D051304:Profilins; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D003285:Contractile Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D051304:Profilins; C061312:Bet v 1 allergen, Betula; D007073:Immunoglobulin E