title: Japanese cedar pollen-based subcutaneous immunotherapy decreases tomato fruit-specific basophil activation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Some patients with Japanese cedar pollen (JCP)-induced allergic rhinitis develop pollen-food allergy syndrome (PFAS) as a reaction to tomato fruit. Pollen allergen-specific subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) is reportedly beneficial for some associated food allergies; however, the reported changes in food allergen-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E and IgG4 levels are inconsistent. Here, we investigated immunologic reactivity to tomato fruit after JCP-based SCIT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three children (aged 6-17 years) with JCP-induced allergic rhinitis and sensitized to tomato (serum tomato fruit-specific IgE level >0.34 UA/ml) received JCP-based SCIT. Basophil activation by tomato and JCP extracts and serum-specific IgE and IgG4 levels against these allergens were determined before and after 4 or 5 months of maintenance SCIT. Basophil activation was assessed by monitoring CD203c upregulation on flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  JCP-based SCIT significantly reduced the basophil activation caused by tomato fruit (p = 0.03) and JCP (p < 0.001) extracts. JCP-specific IgG4 levels markedly increased after SCIT (p < 0.001), whereas tomato fruit-specific IgG4 levels did not. After SCIT, no significant changes were observed in specific IgE levels for tomato fruit (p = 0.11) or JCP (p = 0.19).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tomato fruit-specific basophil activation decreases after JCP-based SCIT, suggesting that it is efficacious in relieving and preventing the symptoms of PFAS in patients with JCP-induced allergic rhinitis.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan.
authors: Chisato
authors: C
authors: Inuo
authors: Yasuto
authors: Y
authors: Kondo
authors: Kenichi
authors: K
authors: Tanaka
authors: Yoichi
authors: Y
authors: Nakajima
authors: Takayasu
authors: T
authors: Nomura
authors: Hitoshi
authors: H
authors: Ando
authors: Satoko
authors: S
authors: Suzuki
authors: Ikuya
authors: I
authors: Tsuge
authors: Tetsushi
authors: T
authors: Yoshikawa
authors: Atsuo
authors: A
authors: Urisu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D032485:Cryptomeria / Q000276:immunology*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D005638:Fruit / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E