[A case presenting anaphylaxis shock after intake of capsule packing cedar pollen]

The prevalence of Japanese cedar pollinosis is high to 26.5%, and it is properly remarked as "national disease" in Japan. General therapy strategies are composed of self-care by using mask or glasses to avoid antigen, and medical-care by using second-generation antihistamines or nasal corticosteroid spray. Meanwhile, there are other so-called self-medication patients who utilize health foods but do not consult to any physician. Papilla, commercial name of one kind of those health foods, is a capsular packed with cedar pollen. In February 2007, we experienced a 49-year-old female patient who presented anaphylaxis shock after intake of Papilla capsular. In this case, her special-IgE antibody and histamine release test were both positive to cedar pollen. Although Cry j 1, the major allergen in the Papilla capsular is a small amount, the cause of anaphylaxis can not be reasoned as anything except the pollen contents in this product. In conclusion, it is appropriate to consider it exercise induce anaphylaxis shock due to playing tennis after intake of the capsular.

[Measurement of airborne cladosporium spp antigens by aeroallergen immnoblotting and the seasonal fluctuation]

BACKGROUND

Airborne Cladosporium spp (Clad) antigens were measured by aeroallergen immnoblotting, and analyzed the seasonal fluctuation of the antigens.

METHODS

Airborne Clad antigens (Clad) were transferred onto nitrocellulose membrane and treated with anti-Clad rabbit antiserum, then alkaline phosphatase-conjugated rabbit IgG. Finally, the spots from Clad antigens were visualized with BCIP/NBT substrate.

RESULTS

Clear purple spots from Clad antigens were seen on the airborne samples. Two peaks of spring and autumn were observed on the study of daily examination of the spots. Many spots from Clad antigens were mainly observed from afternoon to midnight at daily basis. No correlation between the number of the spots and the four weather elements was seen.

CONCLUSION

Spots from airborne Clad antigens can be obtained easily by use of an immunochemical technique. The great numbers of spores were seen in spring and autumn out of one year and from afternoon to midnight out of one day.

Effect of fermented milk prepared with two probiotic strains on Japanese cedar pollinosis in a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study

There has been much interest in the potential of using probiotic bacteria for treating allergic diseases. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of Lactobacillus GG (LGG) and L. gasseri TMC0356 (TMC0356) in alleviating Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP), a seasonal allergic rhinitis caused by Japanese cedar pollen. Fermented milk prepared with the tested bacteria or placebo yoghurt was administered to 40 subjects with a clinical history of JCP for 10 weeks. Subjective symptoms, self-care measures and blood samples were compared between the two groups. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from seven patients with JCP and in vitro cytokine production by the isolated PBMCs was analysed in the presence of heat-killed lactic acid bacteria. Consumption of the fermented milk significantly decreased the mean symptom score for nasal blockage after 9 weeks (P<0.05) and mean symptom-medication scores after 9 and 10 weeks when compared with the placebo group (P<0.01 and P<0.05 respectively). The tested strains of lactic acid bacteria affected cytokine production by isolated PBMCs in vitro in a strain-dependent manner. LGG significantly inhibited IL-4 and IL-5 production by PBMCs stimulated by both Cry j 1 and PHA. TMC0356 only suppressed IL-5 production stimulated by PHA. The fermented milk prepared with LGG and TMC0356 might be beneficial in JCP because of its effect on nasal blockage. The effects of LGG and TMC0356 might arise at least partly from their specific down-regulation of the human Th2 immune response.

Two routes for pollen entering indoors: ventilation and clothes

BACKGROUND

The route by which pollen enters dwellings has not been clarified.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the amount of pollen entering dwellings by ventilation and adhesion to textile products.

METHODS

The amount of pollen clinging to fabrics (clothes, laundry, and futon bedding) out of doors was measured by quantification of Japanese cedar pollen antigen Cry j 1. The effect of air ventilation on the amount of pollen indoors was also investigated using several neighboring unoccupied apartments with an identical layout while controlling the ventilation conditions.

RESULTS

The amount of pollen adhering to futons was especially high. More than half of the pollen on futons or laundry remained on the surface, even after being brushed off by hand or shaken off. Vacuuming laundry and futons after airing out would be an effective way to decrease the amount of indoor pollen. A large amount of pollen entered dwellings through air ducts when the windows were closed and the ventilation fans working. Since most pollen that entered by ventilation remained near the windows, cleaning carefully and frequently near windows could reduce the amount of pollen indoors.

CONCLUSIONS

To decrease the amount of pollen indoors, special attention must be paid to textile products and ventilation systems during the pollen season.

A randomized controlled trial of sublingual immunotherapy for Japanese cedar pollinosis

BACKGROUND

Japanese cedar pollen represents an important and unique allergen. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has been suggested to be a highly effective route of desensitization against a variety of allergens. However, little information is available about its use in cedar pollen allergy.

METHODS

A blinded randomized, placebo-controlled trial employing SLIT for cedar pollinosis was conducted over a period of 6 months. Sixty-seven subjects were enrolled and the symptom scores during the pollen season were evaluated by a symptom diary, measurement of cedar-specific IgE and IgG4, and determination of Cry j-specific Th2 clones before SLIT and before and after the pollen season.

RESULTS

No major adverse effects were observed in either group. The serum-specific IgG4 activity increased significantly after SLIT in the active group. The active group also exhibited significantly lower symptom scores compared to the placebo. The specific Th2 clone sizes were not significantly different between the groups before the pollen season. However, an increase in the clone size was observed after the pollen season in the placebo group, but not in the active group.

CONCLUSION

Use of SLIT for Japanese cedar pollinosis was found to be safe and associated with an increase in cedar-specific IgG4 levels. Such therapy inhibited the increase in Cry j-specific Th2 clone size induced by pollen exposure. Finally, use of SLIT resulted in significant improvement of the clinical symptoms of cedar pollinosis in this patient population. These observations suggest that SLIT may offer another safe approach to the management of cedar pollinosis.

[Investigation of the variation of Cry j 2 concentration in pollen among sugi (Cryptomeria japonica d. Don) trees using a newly established extraction method]

BACKGROUND

Selection of low-allergen trees is under consideration for the reduction of Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) pollinosis. The extraction method of Cry j 2 was established and then the variation of Cry j 2 concentrations in pollen among Sugi trees was investigated.

METHODS

The extraction efficiency of Cry j 2 was compared among buffers with different pH, ionic species and NaCl concentration. The Cry j 2 concentration in the pollen of 140 trees was measured using the most efficient buffer.

RESULTS

NaHCO3 (0.125 M) + 0.5 M NaCl buffer showed the highest Cry j 2 extraction efficiency. The mean and standard deviation of Cry j 2 concentration among 140 trees was 404 +/- 189 microg/g pollen, which was equivalent to that of Cry j 1 (435 +/- 169 microg).

CONCLUSION

We revealed that the variation of Cry j 2 concentrations was as large as that of Cry j 1 in the pollen among trees using the newly developed extraction method.

Isolation and characterization of native Cry j 3 from Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen

BACKGROUND

Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollinosis is the most prevalent allergy in Japan. Recently, the Japanese cedar pollen allergen Cry j 3 was cloned as a homologue of Jun a 3, which is a major allergen from mountain cedar (Juniperus ashei) pollen. However, native Cry j 3 has not been isolated and there are no reports on its allergenic activity. The aims of this study were to isolate native Cry j 3 and assess its immunoglobulin E (IgE)-binding capacity in patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis.

METHODS

Native Cry j 3 was purified from Japanese cedar pollen by multidimensional chromatography. We assessed the IgE-binding capacity using sera from patients allergic to Japanese cedar pollen by immunoblot analysis and ELISA. Moreover, we assayed the capacity of Cry j 3 to induce histamine release from the patients' leukocytes. We cloned cDNA corresponding to purified Cry j 3 from a cDNA library of Japanese cedar pollen.

RESULTS

We isolated native Cry j 3 as a 27-kDa protein. The IgE-binding frequency of Cry j 3 from the sera of patients allergic to Japanese cedar pollen was estimated as 27% (27/100) by ELISA. Cry j 3 induced the release of histamine from leukocytes. We cloned the cDNA and named it Cry j 3.8. Cry j 3.8 cDNA encoded 225 amino acids and had significant homology with thaumatin-like proteins.

CONCLUSIONS

Cry j 3 is a causative allergen in Japanese cedar pollinosis and may play crucial roles in the cross-reactivity with oral allergy syndrome.

Effect of home environment control on children with atopic or non-atopic asthma

BACKGROUND

Although allergen avoidance is known to be important for treating atopic diseases, there is a very limited amount of time for clinical education of patients on this topic.

METHODS

We compared the effect of the thorough home visit counseling (>60 minutes per visit) for avoiding house dust mites (HDMs) with that of regular guidance in our clinics (10 minutes per patient). We enrolled 36 children with asthma (7 years of age or younger; mean, 3.8) in this study under an informed consent. After enrolling the 24 patients for the home visit, 12 families were enrolled as controls for the regular clinical guidance. Between June 1995 and June 1996, we visited the homes of 24 children with asthma enrolled in this study every month and performed a thorough HDM-avoidance counseling of more than 60 minutes (home visit counsel) at each visit. We compared the effects of this counseling with those of the regular clinical guidance given (10 minutes per patient) to the remaining 12 children with asthma. We also evaluated the effect of home visit counseling on children of two subgroups, i.e., an atopic (with positive IgE antibody against HDM) and a non-atopic (without detectable IgE antibodies against 8 common allergens) subgroup.

RESULTS

Home visit counseling markedly reduced the frequencies of asthma attacks (p < 0.000001), the required theophylline dosages (p < 0.0005), and the levels of HDM allergens (p < 0.0005) in the atopic subgroups, whereas the effect of regular counseling on these 3 items was relatively less (p < 0.05 or not significant). Surprisingly, home visit counseling also markedly reduced the asthma attacks (p < 0.00001) and theophylline dosages (p < 0.00001) of children with non-atopic asthma.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that thorough allergen avoidance counseling is effective for children with non-atopic asthma as well as atopic asthma.

Anaphylaxis to aprotinin in fibrin sealant

A 50-year-old man with chronic otitis media was admitted to our hospital for investigation of lung cancer. He had received repeated instillations of fibrin sealant (Bolheal) in myringoplasty 7 times over 12 months. During the lower lobectomy, soon after fibrin sealant was applied to seal bronchopleural fistulas, systolic blood pressure decreased to 60 mmHg. Treatment with epinephrine and dopamine was required until his condition improved 2 days later. The specific IgE antibody was detected for the solution for fibrinogen and factor XIII containing bovine aprotinin. Cross-reactivity between purified aprotinin and the solution was noted by competitive ELISA inhibition tests.

Recombinant Der p 1 and Der f 1 with in vitro enzymatic activity to cleave human CD23, CD25 and alpha1-antitrypsin, and in vivo IgE-eliciting activity in mice

BACKGROUND

The major house dust mite group 1 allergens Der p 1 and Der f 1 are the most potent indoor allergens. Der p 1 cleaves human cell surface molecules, the low-affinity IgE receptor (CD23/FcepsilonRII), the alpha-subunit of the IL-2 receptor (CD25), and a protease inhibitor alpha1-antitrypsin, and in vitro and in vivo studies suggested the importance of its proteolytic activity in the pathogenesis of allergy. Recently, we established an efficient system to prepare correctly folded active recombinant Der p 1 and Der f 1 (Der p 1-N52Q and Der f 1-N53Q) with similar molecular sizes, secondary structures and allergenicities as their natural types. To evaluate whether Der p 1-N52Q and Der f 1-N53Q are suitable for use in future in vitro and in vivo studies as alternatives to the natural types, we investigate their proteolytic activity to cleave the human proteins and IgE-eliciting activity in mice.

METHODS

Proteolytic activities of Der p 1-N52Q and Der f 1-N53Q against a short peptide substrate, a collagen substrate Azocoll, human CD23 and CD25 expressed on the cells and human alpha1-antitrypsin were analyzed by kinetic assays for proteolysis of the fluorogenic or colorimetric substrates, flow cytometry and sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, respectively. Mice were intraperitoneally immunized with Der p 1-N52Q and Der f 1-N53Q adsorbed on Alum, and the serum IgE levels were measured by sandwich ELISA.

RESULTS

Der p 1-N52Q and Der f 1-N53Q showed proteolytic specificities against the short peptide substrate, Azocoll, human cell surface CD23 and CD25 and human alpha1-antitrypsin, and elicited significant serum IgE levels in immunized mice.

CONCLUSION

The recombinant forms, Der p 1-N52Q and Der f 1-N53Q, will be useful tools as alternatives to the natural Der p 1 and Der f 1 for various in vitro and in vivo analyses.

Analysis of the structure and allergenicity of recombinant pro- and mature Der p 1 and Der f 1: major conformational IgE epitopes blocked by prodomains

BACKGROUND

The major house dust mite group 1 allergens Der p 1 and Der f 1, which belong to the papain-like cysteine protease family, are the most potent of indoor allergens. However, little information is available on the location of IgE epitopes.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the allergenicities of recombinant proforms and mature forms of Der p 1 and Der f 1 to compare them with natural Der p 1 and Der f 1 and to obtain information on the conformational IgE-binding epitopes.

METHODS

Secreted pro-Der p 1 and pro-Der f 1 and their mutants without hyperglycosylation expressed in yeast were converted to mature forms. We purified the proforms and mature forms and analyzed their apparent molecular sizes and secondary structures by means of gel-filtration and circular dichroism analysis and their allergenicities by means of assays for IgE binding, IgE-binding inhibition, and basophil histamine release. The tertiary structure of pro-Der f 1 was predicted by molecular modeling.

RESULTS

The recombinant mature forms exhibited similar molecular sizes, secondary structures, and allergenicities as their natural types. On the other hand, their proforms exhibited different secondary structures and less allergenicities than the mature forms in all sera and volunteers tested. Molecular modeling revealed that the prosegment is anchored at the prosegment-binding loop and the substrate-binding cleft on the surface of the mature portion.

CONCLUSIONS

Our studies indicate that the prodomains of Der p 1 and Der f 1 reduce allergenicity and that the major conformational IgE epitopes commonly found in a broad population of patients exist within the 2 regions blocked by the prosegments. Recombinant Der p 1 and Der f 1 and the findings in the present study will be the basis for allergen standardization and the design of safer and more effective allergen vaccines.

Recombinant Der p 1 and Der f 1 exhibit cysteine protease activity but no serine protease activity

Although mite major group 1 allergens, Der p 1 and Der f 1, were first isolated as cysteine proteases, some studies reported that natural Der p 1 exhibits mixed cysteine and serine protease activity. Clarifying whether the serine protease activity originates from Der p 1 or is due to contamination is important for distinguishing between the pathogenic proteolytic activities of group 1 allergens and mite-derived serine proteases. Recombinant mite group 1 allergens would be useful tool for addressing this issue, because they are completely free from contamination by mite serine proteases. Recombinant Der p 1 and Der f 1, and highly purified natural forms exhibited only cysteine protease activity. However, commercially available natural forms exhibited both activities, but the two activities were eluted into different fractions in size-exclusion column chromatography. The substrate specificity associated with the serine protease activity was similar to that of Der f 3. These results indicate that the serine protease activity does not originate from group 1 allergens.

Dilution method to refold bacterially expressed recombinant Der f 2 and Der p 2 to exhibit the secondary structure and histamine-releasing activity of natural allergens

BACKGROUND

Structurally refolded recombinant forms of major house dust mite group 2 allergens, Der f 2 and Der p 2, expressed in Escherichia coli, were prepared by solubilizing the insoluble products with urea and subsequently dialyzing against buffer. In this study, we determined conditions for refolding the urea-denatured recombinant Der f 2 and Der p 2 by one-step dilution as an alternative to dialysis, which requires several steps of handling and much time and cost.

METHODS

The insoluble bacterial product containing recombinant Der f 2 was solubilized with a buffer containing 8 M urea, and the solution was diluted to various urea concentrations. The refolding efficiency in each dilution was estimated from the height of the peak corresponding to the folded recombinant Der f 2 and that containing the aggregated form on anion exchange chromatography. The structure and allergenicity of the purified recombinant Der f 2 and Der p 2 refolded using the dilution method were analyzed based on circular dichroism and a basophil histamine-releasing assay, respectively.

RESULTS

Although the refolding efficiency decreased as the urea concentration in the dilution increased, experimental conditions whereby the protein and urea concentrations in the dilution were less than 0.5 mg/ml and 0.8 M, respectively, achieved maximum refolding efficiency. The recombinant allergens prepared by the dilution method exhibited the secondary structure and histamine-releasing activity of natural allergens purified from mite culture.

CONCLUSIONS

The dilution method established in this study is more convenient in terms of handling, time, and cost than the dialysis method and will be useful for large-scale production and for the preparation of numbers of mutants to analyze IgE epitopes.

[Mother and two siblings with cockroach asthma]

We report 2 siblings, an 11 year-old girl and a 10 year-old boy, with cockroach asthma who developed the symptoms in May and October, 1999, respectively. Both children were considered as psychogenic asthma because of poor familial environment and late onset. Their mother also had asthmatic attacks since September, 2001. It became clear in the detailed clinical history that their rooms had not been cleaned up at all for a long period, and a lot of cockroaches had lived in the house. A significantly high titer of cockroach specific IgE-antibody (CAP-RAST) was detected in all three patients, and cockroach was considered as the main allergen of asthma in these patients. Although many cases with cockroach allergy including asthma have been reported in United States, it has not been recognized well in Japan yet. We would like to emphasize that cockroach should be kept in one' s mind as an important allergen of asthma.

Identification of peptides containing T-cell epitopes of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen allergen (Cry j 1) in dogs

Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica, CJ) pollen has been known to cause atopic dermatitis in dogs in Japan. However, since the mechanism of the CJ antigen recognition is not well understood in dogs, it is difficult to develop effective immunotherapy for atopic dermatitis caused by sensitization to CJ pollen. In order to aim at development of a peptide immunotherapy, we tried to identify T-cell epitopes of a major allergen of CJ pollen, Cry j 1, in dogs sensitive to CJ pollen allergen. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from 22 dogs experimentally sensitized to CJ pollen allergen and 5 atopic dogs sensitive to CJ pollen allergen were used for mapping of T-cell epitopes of Cry j 1 using 35 kinds of synthesized overlapping peptides of Cry j 1. Reactive peptides were identified based on the results of blastogenic responses of PBMCs against the peptides when the stimulation indices were beyond 2.0. Three reactive peptides were identical in a relatively high population of experimental dogs, which were Nos. 8 (p71-90) (41%), 10 (p91-110) (50%), and 11 (p101-120) (41%). It was considered that these synthesized peptides should contain T-cell epitopes of Cry j 1 in the dogs. However, there were no reactive peptides identical among the five atopic dogs spontaneously sensitive to CJ pollen. The population of dogs experimentally sensitized to CJ pollen antigen will be used in order to investigate effects of a peptide immunotherapy using the reactive peptides. The results in atopic dogs sensitive to CJ pollen antigen will also provide useful information on necessity to develop a tailor-made immunotherapy using reactive peptides in each dog.

Effects of lysed Enterococcus faecalis FK-23 on allergen-induced serum antibody responses and active cutaneous anaphylaxis in mice

BACKGROUND

Our previous studies have presented evidence that lysed Enterococcus faecalis FK-23 (LFK), a lysozyme and heat-treated probiotic product, can inhibit allergen-induced local accumulation of eosinophils in mice.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this experimental study was to evaluate the influence of orally administrated LFK on the host immune responses.

METHODS

BALB/c mice were sensitized subcutaneously, and challenged intraperitoneally by cedar pollen allergen. Blood and spleen samples were collected after oral administration of LFK 60 mg/day for 21 days. The serum levels of total and allergen-specific IgE and IgG2a antibodies and the production of IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-gamma generated by allergen-stimulated cultured splenocytes were determined. Additionally, the effect of LFK on active cutaneous anaphylaxis (ACA) induced by ovalbumin (OVA) challenge in mice was measured after 28 days LFK treatment.

RESULTS

No significant differences in serum immunoglobulin levels, as well as in cytokine production of splenocytes were observed between LFK-treated and control mice (P>0.05). There was, however, an increasing tendency of allergen-specific IgG2a level in mice after LFK treatment for 21 days compared with controls (P=0.060). Furthermore, the serum ratio of specific IgE to IgG2a was found to be significantly decreased in the LFK group (P=0.005). In addition, a significant inhibition of OVA-induced ACA reaction was observed in mice that had been fed for 28 days with LFK compared with control mice (P=0.008).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that LFK shows an anti-inflammatory effect, which may be part of the mechanism for protection against IgE-mediated allergy.

Cry j 1 isoforms derived from Cryptomeria japonica trees have different binding properties to monoclonal antibodies

BACKGROUND

We identified five Cryptomeria japonica trees producing Cry j 1 isoforms that cannot be detected in a sandwich ELISA using two monoclonal antibodies, J1B01 and J1B07, suggesting that the binding affinity of these isoforms for both monoclonal antibodies is low.

OBJECTIVES

The binding properties of the Cry j 1 isoforms produced by five trees to J1B07 and J1B01 were examined. The complementary DNA (cDNA) sequences of the Cry j 1 isoforms were also determined.

METHODS

To clarify the binding properties of these Cry j 1 isoforms to J1B01 and J1B07, Cry j 1 was quantified in pollen samples collected from each of the five trees, by sandwich ELISAs using polyclonal antibodies and either J1B01 or J1B07. The cDNA sequences of isoforms with different binding properties were determined. To test the assumption that amino acid substitutions affect the binding affinities of Cry j 1 isoforms for monoclonal antibodies, cleaved amplified polymorphic sequences (CAPS) markers representing the putative polymorphisms were used to analyse additional trees.

RESULTS

Four of the five trees produced Cry j 1 isoforms with extremely low binding affinity for J1B07, whereas the other tree produced two different isoforms with low binding affinity for either J1B01 or J1B07. Cry j 1-encoding cDNA sequences for one of the four trees and for the exceptional fifth tree indicate that amino acid substitutions at positions 55 and 352 in mature Cry j 1 affect its binding to J1B01 and J1B07, respectively. This was supported by the results of CAPS analysis.

CONCLUSION

The existence of Cry j 1 isoforms with low binding affinity for either J1B01 or J1B07 was established. Furthermore, a single amino acid substitution is involved in this difference in binding affinity for each monoclonal antibody.

Th1-dominant shift of T cell cytokine production, and subsequent reduction of serum immunoglobulin E response by administration in vivo of plasmid expressing Txk/Rlk, a member of Tec family tyrosine kinases, in a mouse model

BACKGROUND

Th1 and Th2 cells, resulting from antigenic stimulation in the presence of IL-12 and IL-4, respectively, are implicated in the pathology of various diseases including allergic and autoimmune diseases. Txk/Rlk is a member of Tec family tyrosine kinases. We reported that Txk acts as a Th1-specific transcription factor in the T lymphocytes.

OBJECTIVE

In this study we have asked whether administration of txk expression plasmid brings about a Th1/Th2 shift in vivo of the mice, and subsequent reduction of circulating IgE.

METHODS

Mice were administered a txk expression plasmid with hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ) envelope vector. Txk expressions in spleen cells were assessed by immunoblotting and immunocytochemical staining. Cytokine productions by the spleen cells and serum Ig concentrations were studied by ELISA.

RESULTS

Administration of a txk expression plasmid with HVJ vector induced expression of Txk in the spleen cells. The spleen cells showed enhanced Th1-specific cytokine production; spleen cells from the txk administered mice produced more IFN-gamma as compared with those from control plasmid-administered mice in an antigen-specific manner. IL-2 and IL-4 secretions of the spleen cells were comparable between the two mouse groups. Txk administration did not reduce serum IgG concentration. It markedly reduced total IgE level and an IgG1/IgG2a ratio, reflection of Th1/Th2 balance, in sera. Furthermore, txk administration reduced ovalbumin (OVA)-specific IgE levels in sera of the OVA sensitized mice.

CONCLUSION

Thus, Txk enhances IFN-gamma secretion and thus modulates Th1/Th2 cytokine balance, leading to reduction of serum IgE.

Influences of genetic and environmental factors on the concentration of the allergen Cry j 1 in sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen

Pollen from sugi (Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria japonica D. Don), a forest tree species that is widely grown in Japan, causes serious allergic disease. The major allergens from sugi pollen, Cry j 1 and Cry j 2, have been isolated and characterized. It has been reported that Cry j 1 concentration in pollen varies considerably among trees. If Cry j 1 concentration is genetically controlled, the planting of trees with low Cry j 1 concentrations would reduce pollinosis. We investigated genetic and environmental effects on Cry j 1 concentration in eight clones growing at four sites. Concentrations of Cry j 1 in pollen were measured with a monoclonal antibody-based Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The Cry j 1 concentrations differed significantly among clones and sites, but the site x clone interaction was not significant, suggesting that the Cry j 1 concentration is controlled primarily by genetic factors. We examined correlations between Cry j 1 concentration and temperature and precipitation from July through February. Temperature was not significantly related to Cry j 1 concentration, whereas cumulative precipitation during the 8 months and mean daily precipitation in September showed significant negative correlations with Cry j 1 concentration.

[Molecular cloning of fungal allergens and clinical applications of recombinant allergens in fungal allergy]

A large number of fungi are associated with allergic disorders. There are many problems in using non-standardized fungal extracts for diagnosis of fungal allergy. These problems can be solved by using genetically engineered recombinant allergens. At present, more than 70 fungal allergens have been cloned and sequenced, and the recombinant forms of several of these are commercially available. Measurement of IgE antibodies to these commercially available recombinant allergens could provide the tools useful for characterizing the differential sensitization pattern in relation to a particular disease and the allergenic cross-reactivity among fungi. Only a limited number of recombinant allergens are available at present, thus further studies on the molecular biology of fungal allergens are needed so that more recombinant allergens can be used in the clinical field.

Measurement of Dermatophagoides mite allergens on bedding and human skin surfaces

BACKGROUND

The level of the Dermatophagoides mite group 1 (Der 1) allergens in reservoir dust has been used as an index of exposure in most studies. However, the mite allergen level in reservoir dust cannot directly reflect the personal exposure level.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to develop a new method for quantifying the Der 1 allergens on bedding and human skin surfaces as an index of exposure to mite allergens.

METHODS

Samples were obtained with a small adhesive tape from the forearm skin of 30 healthy volunteers and from their regularly used mattresses. The level of Der 1 allergens collected onto the adhesive tape was measured by a newly developed sensitive fluorometric ELISA for Der p 1 and Der f 1.

RESULTS

The Der 1 allergens could be detected in all the samples from bedding surfaces and in 28 of the 30 samples from skin surfaces. The Der 1 levels by adhesive tape sampling from the mattresses correlated with those by reservoir dust sampling. The sampling of the skin and bedding surface with adhesive tape correlated, but skin sampling did not correlate with reservoir sampling.

CONCLUSION

The Der 1 allergens on bedding surfaces and on human skin surfaces could be quantified with a very simple sampling technique. The system developed in this study will provide a new tool for the assessment of mite allergen exposure in daily life.