Relationship between airborne Cry j 1 and the onset time of the symptoms of Japanese cedar pollinosis patients.
BACKGROUND
Some patients with Japanese cedar (JC) pollinosis already show pollinosis symptoms before the first day of the pollen season as determined by microscopic pollen counts.


METHODS
Airborne pollen allergen (Cry j 1) levels were measured by electron spin resonance radical immunoassay, a highly-sensitive method for Cry j 1 with a sensitivity 10-100-fold higher than conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The symptom data from patients with JC pollinosis were collected from a mobile phone site, "pollen check sheet", and the onset times of the patients' symptoms were analyzed.


RESULTS
The relationship between airborne Cry j 1 levels and the onset time of pollinosis symptoms was investigated. The symptoms of some patients began at the time airborne Cry j 1 levels fluctuated at 1 to 3 pg/m3 and symptom scores increased at the time of sudden increase in Cry j 1 levels. About 40% of patients began to show symptoms until the first day of the pollen season and the time nearly corresponds to the time of sudden increase in Cry j 1 levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Pollinosis symptoms of some patients began at the time airborne Cry j 1 levels fluctuated at 1 to 3 pg/m3 and symptom scores increased at the time of sudden increase in Cry j 1 levels. The latter time nearly corresponds to the first day of the pollen season.
Takahashi
Yuichi
Y
The Yamagata Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Yamagata City, Yamagata, Japan. takahashiyui@pref.yamagata.jp
Aoyama
Masaaki
M
Yoshitake
Masanori
M
Abe
Etsuko
E
Ohta
Nobuo
N
Sakaguchi
Masahiro
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology*; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D032485:Cryptomeria / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007564:Japan; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology*; D012621:Seasons
D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; C065290:Cry j I protein, Cryptomeria japonica; D052638:Particulate Matter; D010940:Plant Proteins