Pollen from different olive tree cultivars contains varying amounts of the major allergen Ole e 1.
BACKGROUND
Commercial olive pollen from uncertain cultivar origin is the common material used for clinical and biological studies. We aimed to assess the putative heterogeneity of olive cultivars with regard to the presence of the major pollen allergen Ole e 1 and to determine whether these differences have clinical relevance.


METHODS
The Ole e 1 content of several cultivars was determined by immunoblotting and ultrastructural immunocytochemistry and compared to that of a commercially available olive pollen extract designed for diagnosis. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis of Ole e 1 transcripts was also performed. Crude protein extracts were used to carry out skin prick tests (SPTs) on 30 allergic patients in order to evaluate the clinical importance of such differences.


RESULTS
Ole e 1 was present in all cultivars, although significant quantitative differences were detected. Ole e 1 transcripts positively correlated with the amount of the allergen. Significant variations in the average reactivity of allergic patients to SPTs were observed depending on the cultivar considered.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of the Ole e 1 allergen in all the cultivars suggests that this allergen may play an essential biological role. The expression of the allergen is controlled at the transcriptional level. The significant differences in the Ole e 1 content are likely responsible for the different average reactivity exhibited by patients to the cultivars studied, although the role of other allergens cannot be excluded. Our results suggest that the use of the commercial pollen mixtures currently available may lead to mistakes in allergy diagnosis and to limited success in immunotherapy. Therefore, further standardization is strongly recommended.
Castro
Antonio Jesús
AJ
Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Celular y Molecular de Plantas, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, Granada, España.
de Dios Alché
Juan
J
Cuevas
Julián
J
Romero
Pedro José
PJ
Alché
Víctor
V
Rodríguez-García
María Isabel
MI
D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000941:Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007167:Immunotherapy; D031658:Olea / Q000145:classification*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012882:Skin Tests
D000485:Allergens; D000941:Antigens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; C081946:Ole e I protein, Olea europaea; D010940:Plant Proteins