title: Detection of airborne Par j 1 and Par j 2 allergens in relation to Urticaceae pollen counts in different bioclimatic areas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In aerobiological studies, the Parietaria pollen type usually includes all Parietaria and Urtica species found in the area. Given that Urtica is a nonallergenic plant, the pollen counts report incomplete information on the presence of allergens in the atmosphere. Discordance between the pollen concentrations of Urticaceae and allergic symptoms has been observed in patients with pollinosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the Urticaceae pollen counts with the Par j 1 and Par j 2 aeroallergen concentrations from 2 different Spanish geographic areas to determine the allergenic load in the atmosphere.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hirst-type volumetric traps and Burkard Cyclone samplers were used for pollen counts and aeroallergen capture, respectively. The quantification of Par j 1 and Par j 2 allergens was performed using specific 2-site antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Transmission electron microscopy and immunocytochemical techniques were applied to localize these allergens in the orbicules.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Differences between areas and years were obtained in both pollen and aeroallergen concentrations. Despite the lower pollen counts recorded in Cartagena, higher aeroallergen concentrations were registered compared with Ourense. A lower correlation was achieved between Urticaceae pollen concentrations and aeroallergen levels, with a maximum positive significant correlation (adjusted R2 = 0.466, P < .001). Intense labeling of Par j 1 and Par j 2 proteins was observed in the orbicules, the tapetal membrane, and the tapetal tissue remnants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This method may be valuable for epidemiologic research to establish correlations between concentrations of Parietaria aeroallergens and clinical symptoms. Therefore, the measurement of aeroallergens should be incorporated into the aerobiological studies with clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology and Soil Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Vigo, Ourense, Spain. vjato@uvigo.es
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jato
authors.forename: F Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Rajo
authors.forename: Zulima
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: González-Parrado
authors.forename: Belén
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Elvira-Rendueles
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moreno-Grau
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vega-Maray
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fernández-González
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Asturias
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suárez-Cervera
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D002980:Climate; D035264:Flowers / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D032403:Parietaria / Q000276:immunology; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000737:chemistry*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011058:Pollen / Q000737:chemistry*; D011891:Rain; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012621:Seasons; D013030:Spain; D027003:Urticaceae / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; C105336:PMAI protein, Parietaria judaica; C103299:Par j 2.0101; D052638:Particulate Matter; D010940:Plant Proteins