title: Do lipids influence the allergic sensitization process?
abstract: Allergic sensitization is a multifactorial process that is not only influenced by the allergen and its biological function per se but also by other small molecular compounds, such as lipids, that are directly bound as ligands by the allergen or are present in the allergen source. Several members of major allergen families bind lipid ligands through hydrophobic cavities or electrostatic or hydrophobic interactions. These allergens include certain seed storage proteins, Bet v 1-like and nonspecific lipid transfer proteins from pollens and fruits, certain inhalant allergens from house dust mites and cockroaches, and lipocalins. Lipids from the pollen coat and furry animals and the so-called pollen-associated lipid mediators are codelivered with the allergens and can modulate the immune responses of predisposed subjects by interacting with the innate immune system and invariant natural killer T cells. In addition, lipids originating from bacterial members of the pollen microbiome contribute to the outcome of the sensitization process. Dietary lipids act as adjuvants and might skew the immune response toward a TH2-dominated phenotype. In addition, the association with lipids protects food allergens from gastrointestinal degradation and facilitates their uptake by intestinal cells. These findings will have a major influence on how allergic sensitization will be viewed and studied in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Merima
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bublin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eiwegger
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: heimo.breiteneder@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Heimo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Breiteneder
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D003058:Cockroaches; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D008055:Lipids / Q000276:immunology*; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D010944:Plants; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D039981:Pyroglyphidae
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008055:Lipids; C030363:lipid transfer protein
keywords: Allergy; food allergens; immunomodulatory lipids; lipid-binding allergens; microbial lipids; pollen allergens; pollen lipids; pollen-associated lipid mediators