title: The allergenic potency of Japanese hop pollen is increasing with environmental changes in Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The sensitization rate to Japanese Hop (Hop J) in respiratory allergy patients has increased in recent years in Korea. We evaluated changes in the allergenic potency of Hop J pollen collected in 1998 and 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five patients with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma were enrolled. Group I included 21 subjects sensitized to Hop J at an initial visit and group II included 14 subjects who developed a new sensitization. Hop J pollens were collected in 1998 and 2009 (98 and 09 extracts) and both urban and suburban environments (urban and suburban extracts). Serum specific IgE levels to Hop J pollen extracts were compared using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). IgE binding components were compared by IgE immunoblot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum specific IgE levels to the 09 and urban extracts in both groups increased significantly compared to those of the 98 and suburban extracts. IgE immunoblot demonstrated that the major 10 kDa allergen was intensified in group I, while it was newly generated in group II with additional components ranging from 12-95 kDa. When the 98 and 09 extracts were compared, intensification of the major allergen of 09 extract had occurred in both groups. The IgE binding components of the urban extract was stronger than those of suburban one.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The allergenic potency of Hop J pollen may be increased with environmental changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea. ; Center for Respiratory Disease, Yeungnam University Medical Center, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Gil Soon
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Yoo-Seob
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Joo-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jeong-Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Hae-Sim
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
keywords: Allergens; Japanese Hop pollen; environment