title: Identification of critical amino acids in the IgE epitopes of Ric c 1 and Ric c 3 and the application of glutamic acid as an IgE blocker.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The allergenicity of Ricinus communis L. (castor bean, Euphorbiaceae) is associated with components of its seeds and pollen. Castor bean allergy has been described not only in laboratory workers, but also in personnel working in oil processing mills, fertilizer retail, the upholstery industry and other industrial fields. In the present study, we describe the critical amino acids in the IgE-binding epitopes in Ric c 1 and Ric c 3, two major allergens of R. communis. In addition, we also investigate the cross-reactivity between castor bean and some air and food allergen extracts commonly used in allergy diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IgE reactivity of human sera from atopic patients was screened by immune-dot blot against castor bean allergens. Allergenic activity was evaluated in vitro using a rat mast cell activation assay and by ELISA. Cross-reactivity was observed between castor bean allergens and extracts from shrimp, fish, gluten, wheat, soybean, peanut, corn, house dust, tobacco and airborne fungal allergens. We observed that treatment of rat and human sera (from atopic patients) with glutamic acid reduced the IgE-epitope interaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The identification of glutamic acid residues with critical roles in IgE-binding to Ric c 3 and Ric c 1 support the potential use of free amino acids in allergy treatment.
authors: Laboratório de Química e Função de Proteínas e Peptídeos/Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense-Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Natalia
authors: N
authors: Deus-de-Oliveira
authors: Shayany P
authors: SP
authors: Felix
authors: Camila
authors: C
authors: Carrielo-Gama
authors: Keysson V
authors: KV
authors: Fernandes
authors: Renato Augusto
authors: RA
authors: DaMatta
authors: Olga L T
authors: OL
authors: Machado
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D002367:Ricinus communis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000939:Epitopes; D010940:Plant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D018698:Glutamic Acid