title: Children monosensitized to pine nuts have similar patterns of sensitization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several cases of pine nut allergies and anaphylaxis have been reported in the literature, but only few pine nut allergens have been characterized. The aim of this research is to identify through immunoelectrophoretic techniques the major pine nut allergens in a group of children monosensitized to pine nuts.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied five children with pine nut allergies and no other sensitization to food except to pine nuts, confirmed by in vivo (prick test, prick-to-prick) and in vitro tests (specific IgE determinations [CAP-FEIA]). The protein profile of pine nuts was analyzed by Sodium Dodecyl sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Immunoblotting was performed after incubation of membranes with the sera from the children included in the present study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunoblotting (SDS-PAGE) demonstrated five similar bands between 6 and 47 kDa in all the subjects studied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These bands should be considered the potential allergens for pine nut allergic children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric, Allergy Unit, A. Meyer Children Hospital, Florence, Italy. e.novembre@meyer.it; f.mori@meyer.it
authors.forename: Elio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Novembre
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barni
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrante
authors.forename: Neri
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pucci
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ballabio
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Uberti
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Penas
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Restani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000799:Angioedema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D021184:Nut Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D009754:Nuts / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D012882:Skin Tests; D014581:Urticaria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E