title: Measurement of lipid transfer protein in 88 apple cultivars.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fruits are a major cause of food allergy in adults. Lipid transfer proteins (LTP) are implicated in severe allergic reactions to fruits, but little is known about LTP content in different cultivars.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Determination of the levels of LTP in a wide range of apple cultivars.
  
  
  METHODS
  LTP was measured in apples from 53 cultivars grown in Italy and 35 grown in The Netherlands, using three different immunoassays: a competitive ELISA (cELISA), a sandwich ELISA (sELISA) and a RAST inhibition (RI). Selected cultivars were evaluated using the basophil histamine release test (BHR), skin prick test (SPT) and double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  LTP levels measured with the three immunoassays were significantly correlated, as judged by Pearson's correlation (0.61 < Rp < 0.65; p < 0.0001), but differed with respect to the actual quantities: 3.4-253.2 (sELISA), 2.7-120.2 (cELISA) and 0.4-47.3 microg/g tissue (RI). Between cultivars, LTP titers varied over about a two-log range. Pilot in vitro and in vivo biological testing (BHR, SPT and DBPCFC) with selected cultivars supported the observed differences in LTP levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Around 100-fold differences in LTP levels exist between apple cultivars. Whether the lowest observed levels of LTP warrant designation as hypo-allergenic requires more extensive confirmation by oral challenges. Determination of cultivar variation in LTP levels provides important information for growers and consumers. Comparison to earlier reported Mal d 1 levels in the same cultivars reveals that a designation as low allergenic does not always coincide for both allergens.
authors: Institute of Food Research, Norwich, UK.
authors: Ana I
authors: AI
authors: Sancho
authors: Ronald
authors: R
authors: van Ree
authors: Astrid
authors: A
authors: van Leeuwen
authors: Bert J
authors: BJ
authors: Meulenbroek
authors: Eric W
authors: EW
authors: van de Weg
authors: Luud J W J
authors: LJ
authors: Gilissen
authors: Helene
authors: H
authors: Puehringer
authors: Margit
authors: M
authors: Laimer
authors: Alessio
authors: A
authors: Martinelli
authors: Marzio
authors: M
authors: Zaccharini
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: Vazquez-Cortés
authors: Montserrat
authors: M
authors: Fernandez-Rivas
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Hoffmann-Sommergruber
authors: E N Clare
authors: EN
authors: Mills
authors: Laurian
authors: L
authors: Zuidmeer
mesh_terms: D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D027845:Malus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D011897:Random Allocation; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; C030363:lipid transfer protein