Pollen food syndrome: update on the allergens.
Pollen food syndrome results from cross-reactivity between pollen-specific IgE and homologous proteins found in fruits and vegetables. These proteins can be grouped into several categories based on structure and include profilins, pathogenesis-related proteins, and cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants. Although cooking the reactive fruits and vegetables has been shown to destroy IgE-binding epitopes, evidence suggests that the remaining linear epitopes can bind cross-reactive T cells and enhance T-cell activation in vitro. Several methods of diagnosing food allergies exist, including skin prick tests and double-blind food challenges; however, diagnosing pollen food syndrome depends almost exclusively on clinical history. Immunotherapy has been studied as a treatment for pollen food syndrome, with highly variable results.
Hofmann
Alison
A
Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 2898, Durham, NC 27110, USA.
Burks
A Wesley
AW
D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D005638:Fruit / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D051304:Profilins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013577:Syndrome; D014675:Vegetables / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D010940:Plant Proteins; D051304:Profilins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E