title: Characterization of intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors for celery allergy in immunosenescence.
abstract: Recent studies indicated an underestimation of allergies in elderly. In our experimental food allergy model of protein feeding under acid-suppression we aimed to assess whether food allergy can be induced in immunosenescent mice. Furthermore, the impact of gastric digestion on celery allergenicity was evaluated in aged patients. Measurements of serum zinc and iron levels in senescent and adult BALB/c mice for definition of the nutritional status indicated a possible alteration of the immune response in the aged animals due to reduced zinc and iron levels. Feedings of mice with digestion-sensitive celery proteins under physiological gastric conditions induced IgG1 and IgG2a in the aged and preferentially IgG1 in the adult animals. In contrast, incomplete digestion due to acid-suppression rendered celery-specific IgE, positive skin tests and elevated IL-5 levels in both age groups. Also in aged celery allergic patients (mean age 72 years) properly digested celery showed decreased capacity to bind and crosslink IgE as evaluated by skin tests and IgE immunoblot. Thus, in the geriatric murine model, celery allergy was induced only if gastric digestion was hindered. Accordingly, gastric proteolysis decreased in vitro and in vivo IgE-reactivity against celery proteins in aged allergic patients.
authors: Department of Pathophysiology, Center of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Untersmayr
authors: Susanne C
authors: SC
authors: Diesner
authors: Kira H
authors: KH
authors: Brämswig
authors: Regina
authors: R
authors: Knittelfelder
authors: Noemi
authors: N
authors: Bakos
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Gundacker
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Lukschal
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Wallmann
authors: Krisztina
authors: K
authors: Szalai
authors: Isabella
authors: I
authors: Pali-Schöll
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Boltz-Nitulescu
authors: Otto
authors: O
authors: Scheiner
authors: Albert
authors: A
authors: Duschl
authors: Erika
authors: E
authors: Jensen-Jarolim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077102:Apium / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010434:Pepsin A / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D012882:Skin Tests; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010940:Plant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007501:Iron; D010434:Pepsin A; D015032:Zinc