Peach fuzz contains large amounts of lipid transfer protein: is this the cause of the high prevalence of sensitization to LTP in Mediterranean countries?
BACKGROUND
Allergy to lipid transfer protein (LTP) is quite common in the Mediterranean countries but virtually absent in Northern Europe. The reasons for this latitude-dependent distribution are unclear. One hypothesis is that peach, the primary sensitizer to LTP, may lose in part its allergenicity as a consequence of treatments (handling, brushing, washing, and packaging) preceding marketing in Northern European. Peach surface fuzz might represent a potential vehicle of LTP.


OBJECTIVE
To detect LTP in peach fuzz, and compare IgE reactivity to peach fuzz and peel of sera from LTP-allergic patients.


METHODS
IgE reactivity to peach peel and peach fuzz extract was measured by ELISA using sera from 2 LTP-allergic PATIENTS. Purified peach LTP was used in inhibition studies.


RESULTS
Both sera strongly reacted both to peach peel and fuzz but reactivity to fuzz was stronger than to peel. Pre-absorption of one serum with peach LTP caused an 87% reduction of IgE reactivity to peach fuzz extract.


CONCLUSIONS
Peach fuzz contains large amounts of LTP and might be a potential vehicle of this allergen causing sensitization in genetically predisposed subjects. Fuzz loss during pre-marketing handling of peaches might be at the basis of the geographic differences that characterize allergy to LTP.
Asero
R
R
Ambulatorio di Allergologia, Clinica San Carlo, Paderno Dugnano, Italy.
Mistrello
G
G
Amato
S
S
Roncarolo
D
D
Martinelli
A
A
Zaccarini
M
M
D052179:Antigens, Plant; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D010940:Plant Proteins; D015995:Prevalence; D027861:Prunus / Q000737:chemistry*
D052179:Antigens, Plant; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; C511920:lipid transfer proteins, plant; D007073:Immunoglobulin E