title: Shiitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes): a poorly known allergen in Western countries responsible for severe work-related asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the IgE-mediated pathogenesis of severe asthma presented by a patient only after handling shiitake (Lentinus edodes) mushrooms (SM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Skin tests were performed using in-house extracts from mushrooms that the patient usually handled, i.e., shiitake, porcini, oyster and black fungus mushroom varieties. Specific IgE to champignons and various molds were determined. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) immunoblotting was performed to detect IgE-binding components. Four negative controls were included in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Skin prick tests performed with in-house mushroom extracts from varieties other than shiitake were completely negative, in contrast to the positive test obtained for shiitake mushrooms. Serum specific IgE levels for common molds and champignons were all negative. SDS-PAGE revealed many protein bands in the four mushroom extracts. Immunoblotting using the patient's serum showed allergenic bands at about 15 and 24 kDa exclusively for SM that were not shared with negative controls. Another faint band was detectable at approximately 37 kDa for SM and porcini varieties.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Here, we present the first European case of SM-induced occupational asthma, a disease more frequently occurring in Asia. Asthma attacks stopped when the patient avoided contact with shiitake mushrooms. No skin reactions and no IgE-binding proteins by immunoblotting were detectable with the other mushrooms tested. The positive skin test with shiitake mushrooms and IgE-binding components in the shiitake extract confirmed the IgE-mediated etiology of the reaction.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Allergy and Immunology Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca'Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pravettoni
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Primavesi
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piantanida
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D059366:Asthma, Occupational / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007558:Italy; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D020942:Shiitake Mushrooms / Q000276:immunology*; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007073:Immunoglobulin E