title: Identification and characterization of a pan-allergen profilin, a major allergen from Caryota mitis pollen.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Caryota mitis is a common plant in tropical and subtropical areas. It produces larger amount of pollen, which has great potential for allergenicity in the pollination season.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to identify the components of Caryota mitis pollen contributing to human allergic diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sera from 20 patients with a positive skin prick test to Caryota mitis pollen crude extract (CmPCE) were collected; the allergic components were determined by the forming of immune complexes in the sera and CmPCE. The results were confirmed by the immune competitive inhibitory assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen out of 20 collected serum samples reacted to a 14 kDa protein fractioned from CmPCE; this 14 kDa antigen also had positive reactions to CmPCE in an ELISA assay. 12 samples from 20 collected serums positively reacted to recombinant CmProfilin (rCmProfilin), as shown by Western blotting, and also showed positive reactivity in ELISA. Preincubation of sera with rCmProfilin eliminated the reactivity of the patients' sera to this 14 kDa band.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 14 kDa protein from the CmPCE was identified as the major allergic component of CmPCE.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease for Allergy at Shenzhen University and College of Life Sciences, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiaojun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Lixin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Ping-Chang
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D051304:Profilins / Q000276:immunology*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D010940:Plant Proteins; D051304:Profilins