Oral allergy syndrome to chicory associated with birch pollen allergy.
BACKGROUND
A few cases of IgE-mediated chicory allergy with oral, cutaneous, and/or respiratory symptoms are reported. We present 4 patients with inhalant birch pollen allergy and oral allergy syndrome to chicory. IgE-binding proteins in chicory and cross-reactivity with birch pollen were studied.


METHODS
Chicory extract was prepared and immunoblotting was used to study IgE reactivity and cross-reactions with birch pollen.


RESULTS
The pattern of IgE binding to chicory was variable among the patients, with protein bands recognized at 18, 21, 40, 52 and 71 kD. Bet v 1-like proteins were detected in chicory by monoclonal antibody binding. Chicory-birch pollen cross-reactivity, as studied in 2 patients from whom enough serum was available, could be demonstrated but did not involve the Bet v 1 protein family. In one of these cases, a 51-kD protein of birch pollen was found to be responsible for cross-reactivity.


CONCLUSIONS
Chicory should be added to the list of foods that can cross-react with birch pollen and cause the birch pollen-associated oral allergy syndrome.
Cadot
P
P
Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. pascal.cadot@med.kuleuven.ac.be
Kochuyt
A-M
AM
van Ree
R
R
Ceuppens
J L
JL
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity / Q000276:immunology; D029662:Betula / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody / Q000276:immunology; D018651:Cichorium intybus / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000276:immunology; D013577:Syndrome; D016387:Women's Health
D000485:Allergens; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007073:Immunoglobulin E