title: Pollen derived low molecular compounds enhance the human allergen specific immune response in vivo.
abstract: Besides allergens, pollen release bioactive, low molecular weight compounds that modulate and stimulate allergic reactions. Clinical relevance of these substances has not been investigated to date.
  
  
  
  To elucidate the effect of a non-allergenic, low molecular weight factors from aqueous birch pollen extracts (Bet-APE < 3 kDa) on the human allergic immune response in vivo.
  
  
  
  Birch and grass pollen allergic individuals underwent skin prick testing with allergen alone, allergen plus Bet-APE < 3 kDa, or allergen plus pre-identified candidate substances from low molecular pollen fraction. Nasal allergen challenges were performed in non-atopic and pollen allergic individuals using a 3 day repeated threshold challenge battery. Subjects were either exposed to allergen alone or to allergen plus Bet-APE< 3 kDa. Local cytokine levels, nasal secretion weights, nasal congestion and symptom scores were determined.
  
  
  
  Skin prick test reactions to pollen elicited larger weals when allergens were tested together with the low molecular weight compounds from pollen. Similar results were obtained with candidate pollen-associated lipid mediators. In nasal lining fluids of allergic patients challenged with allergen plus Bet-APE < 3 kDa, IL-8 and IgE was significantly increased as compared to allergen-only challenged patients. These patients also produced increased amounts of total nasal secretion and reported more severe rhinorrhea than the allergen-only challenged group.
  
  
  
  Low molecular compounds from pollen enhance the allergen specific immune response in the skin and nose. They are therefore of potential clinical relevance in allergic patients.
authors.affiliation: Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Augsburg, Germany. stefanie.gilles@tum.de.|ZAUM - Center of Allergy & Environment, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany. stefanie.gilles@tum.de.|Christine-Kühne-Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK Care), Davos, Switzerland. stefanie.gilles@tum.de.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gilles-Stein
authors.affiliation: Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Augsburg, Germany.|ZAUM - Center of Allergy & Environment, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.affiliation: ZAUM - Center of Allergy & Environment, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany.|ENT Department, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaker
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bas
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.|Molecular Immunology, Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cifuentes
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical and Molecular Allergology, Research Center Borstel, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Borstel, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.affiliation: ZAUM - Center of Allergy & Environment, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany.|Department of Dermatology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gutermuth
authors.affiliation: ZAUM - Center of Allergy & Environment, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmidt-Weber
authors.affiliation: ZAUM - Center of Allergy & Environment, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Behrendt
authors.affiliation: Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Augsburg, Germany.|ZAUM - Center of Allergy & Environment, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany.|Christine-Kühne-Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK Care), Davos, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Traidl-Hoffmann
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D029662:Betula / Q000276:immunology; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D056747:Immunomodulation; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009299:Nasal Provocation Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D011058:Pollen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012882:Skin Tests; D063189:Symptom Assessment; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D016209:Interleukin-8; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: low molecular weight pollen fraction; nasal challenge; pollen-associated lipid mediator; prick test