title: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) proteins induce allergic responses in nasobronchial allergic patients and BALB/c mice.
abstract: Allergy to chickpea or Garbanzo bean (Cicer arietinum) has been reported in the Indian population. Little information is found regarding allergenic events involved in the chickpea allergy; therefore, chickpea allergenicity assessment was undertaken. In vivo and ex vivo studies were carried out using BALB/c mice. Chickpea skin prick test positive patients have been used to extend this study in humans. Identification of allergens was carried out by simulated gastric fluids assay for pepsin resistant polypeptides and validated by IgE western blotting using chickpea sensitive humans and sensitized mice sera. Our data have shown the occurrence of a systemic anaphylactic reaction resulting in reduced body temperature after challenge along with significantly increased levels of IgE, IgG1, MMCP-1, CCL-2 as well as histamine. Further, increased Th1/Th2 (mixed) cytokine response was observed in spleen cell culture supernatants. Jejunum, lungs and spleen showed prominent histopathological changes specific for allergic inflammation. Immunoblotting with pooled sera of either sensitized mice or human sera recognized seven similar IgE binding polypeptides that may be responsible for chickpea induced hypersensitivity reactions. This study has addressed the allergenic manifestations associated with chickpea consumption and identifies the proteins responsible for allergenicity which may prove useful in diagnosis and management of allergenicity of legumes especially chickpea.
authors.affiliation: Food Drug and Chemical Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), MG Marg, Lucknow, India.
authors.forename: Alok Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Anurag
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.forename: Bhushan P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Chaudhari
authors.forename: Mukul
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Premendra D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Dwivedi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D029863:Cicer / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008875:Middle Aged; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D012639:Seeds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010940:Plant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E