title: Allergen-Associated Immunomodulators: Modifying Allergy Outcome.
abstract: The prevalence of allergies is increasing since mid twentieth century; however the underlying causes of this increase are not fully clear. Understanding the mechanism by which a harmless protein becomes an allergen provides us with the basis to prevent and treat these diseases. Although most studies on allergen immunogenicity have traditionally focused on structural properties of the proteins, it is increasingly clear that allergenicity cannot be determined only based on structural features of the allergenic proteins. In fact, allergens do not encounter human facings as isolated molecules but contained in complex mixtures of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids, such as pollen grains or foods. As a result, attention has lately been directed to examine whether allergen-associated molecules exhibit immune-regulatory properties. The present review aims to illustrate some examples of how non-protein molecules accompanying the allergen can modulate allergic responses.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Genetics (UPM-INIA), Technical University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain. cristina.gomez_casado@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gómez-Casado
authors.affiliation: Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Genetics (UPM-INIA), Technical University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Araceli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Díaz-Perales
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000276:immunology; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000276:immunology; D002686:Chitin / Q000276:immunology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D007107:Immune System; D007249:Inflammation; D008024:Ligands; D008055:Lipids / Q000276:immunology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D015995:Prevalence; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D002241:Carbohydrates; D006023:Glycoproteins; D008024:Ligands; D008055:Lipids; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011134:Polysaccharides; D047071:beta-Glucans; C061312:Bet v 1 allergen, Betula; D002686:Chitin
keywords: Allergen; Carbohydrates; Immunomodulator; LPS; Lipids; Particles