Prevalence of sensitization to Artemisia allergens Art v 1, Art v 3 and Art v 60 kDa. Cross-reactivity among Art v 3 and other relevant lipid-transfer protein allergens.
BACKGROUND
Artemisia vulgaris is a widespread weed in the Mediterranean area and several allergens have been detected in its pollen. One of them, Art v 3, belongs to the lipid-transfer protein (LTP) family and its prevalence in Artemisia-sensitized patients or its relationship with other LTP allergens is not clear.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the pattern of sensitization to an array of mugwort allergens in a Mediterranean population, and to study the cross-reactivity of Art v 3 with Pru p 3 and Par j 1, relevant LTP allergens in the area.


METHODS
Skin prick test was performed with whole extracts (A. vulgaris, Parietaria judaica and peach) and pure natural allergens Art v 1, Art v 3, Art v 60 kDa and Par j 1 in 24 mugwort-allergic patients from a Mediterranean area. In vitro assays included measurement of specific IgE and ELISA inhibition among LTP allergens.


RESULTS
The three Artemisia allergens elicited a positive skin response in 70-80% of the patients. Seven patients were clearly sensitized to Par j 1 and 11 to Pru p 3. There was no correlation between Par j 1 and Pru p 3 sensitization, but a highly significant correlation was found between peach extract and Art v 3 as regards the skin response. No IgE cross-reactivity was observed between Art v 3/Par j 1 or Pru p 3/Par j 1. In contrast, Art v 3 significantly inhibited the binding to Pru p 3 of IgE from three patients' sera out of six studied, but Pru p 3 was not able to inhibit the IgE binding to Art v 3.


CONCLUSIONS
Art v 3 is a major mugwort allergen and in some patients with IgE to both Art v 3 and Pru p 3, Art v 3 behaves as the primary sensitizing agent.
Lombardero
M
M
Dept. I+D, ALK-Abelló SA, Madrid, Spain. manuel.lombardero@es.alk-abello.com
García-Sellés
F J
FJ
Polo
F
F
Jimeno
L
L
Chamorro
M J
MJ
García-Casado
G
G
Sánchez-Monge
R
R
Díaz-Perales
A
A
Salcedo
G
G
Barber
D
D
D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D019306:Artemisia / Q000276:immunology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D032403:Parietaria / Q000276:immunology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000276:immunology*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; C102724:Art v 1 protein, mugwort; C495881:Art v 3 allergen, Artemisia vulgaris; C495882:Art v 60 kDa allergen, Artemisia vulgaris; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010940:Plant Proteins; C511920:lipid transfer proteins, plant; D007073:Immunoglobulin E