Rice-induced anaphylaxis: IgE-mediated allergy against a 56-kDa glycoprotein

MucoRice-CTB line 19A, a new marker-free transgenic rice-based cholera vaccine produced in an LED-based hydroponic system

We previously established the selection-marker-free rice-based oral cholera vaccine (MucoRice-CTB) line 51A for human use by Agrobacterium-mediated co-transformation and conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase I trial in Japan and the United States. Although MucoRice-CTB 51A was acceptably safe and well tolerated by healthy Japanese and U.S. subjects and induced CTB-specific antibodies neutralizing cholera toxin secreted by Vibrio cholerae, we were limited to a 6-g cohort in the U.S. trial because of insufficient production of MucoRice-CTB. Since MucoRice-CTB 51A did not grow in sunlight, we re-examined the previously established marker-free lines and selected MucoRice-CTB line 19A. Southern blot analysis of line 19A showed a single copy of the CTB gene. We resequenced the whole genome and detected the transgene in an intergenic region in chromosome 1. After establishing a master seed bank of MucoRice-CTB line 19A, we established a hydroponic production facility with LED lighting to reduce electricity consumption and to increase production capacity for clinical trials. Shotgun MS/MS proteomics analysis of MucoRice-CTB 19A showed low levels of α-amylase/trypsin inhibitor-like proteins (major rice allergens), which was consistent with the data for line 51A. We also demonstrated that MucoRice-CTB 19A had high oral immunogenicity and induced protective immunity against cholera toxin challenge in mice. These results indicate that MucoRice-CTB 19A is a suitable oral cholera vaccine candidate for Phase I and II clinical trials in humans, including a V. cholerae challenge study.

Interactions between intestinal morphology, digestion, inflammatory responses, and gut microbiota of juvenile channel catfish elicited by dietary enzymatic rice protein

The reduction of fishmeal in aquafeeds has been the concern of researchers. Replacing fishmeal with plant proteins affects intestinal function and inflammation, but the interaction between the intestinal responses and gut microbiota remains unclear. In this study, juvenile channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) was fed with four diets in which enzymatic rice protein (RP) replaced fishmeal at levels of 0 (FM), 2.5% (RP2.5), 5.0% (RP5.0), and 7.5% (RP7.5) for 8 weeks to solve the problem mentioned above. Quantification of intestinal morphology showed that 2.5% or 5.0% RP significantly increased villus length and goblet cell number, accompanied by higher activities of intestinal trypsin, alkaline phosphatase (AKP), and Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase (NKA) in RP2.5 group (P < 0.05). In contrast, 7.5% RP slightly damaged the intestinal mucosa and significantly reduced the activities of amylase, AKP, and NKA, as well as decreased serum complement 4 (C4) and immunoglobulin M (IgM). Noteworthy, RT-qPCR showed that 2.5% RP significantly down-regulated intestinal mRNA expression level of il8, while up-regulated mif, tlr4, tlr7, tgfβ3, and cldn2. In contrast, 7.5% RP up-regulated the mRNA expression levels of il1β, il8, and mif, while down-regulated cldn3d. Analysis of gut microbiota showed that 2.5% RP increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and significantly activated potential functions of gut microbiota involved in carbohydrate metabolism. The 7.5% RP increased the diversity of the gut microbiota, accompanied by a significant increase in the relative abundance of conditionally pathogenic bacteria such as Vibrio, Serratia, and Aeromonas (classified as Proteobacteria). Notably, Vibrio was the biomarker species with the greatest difference between the FM and RP7.5 groups (genus level). Correlation analysis indicated that Vibrio may affect immunity through the C4 pathway and further lead to gut inflammation and digestive impairment. Taken above, these results indicated that RP could affect intestinal morphology, digestion, and inflammation, and interact with the composition and potential function of gut microbiota. The low RP supplement (2.5%) improved intestinal morphology and digestion, while high supplement (7.5%) disrupted gut microbiota homeostasis, resulting in damage to intestinal mucosa and inflammatory response.

Role and Mechanism of Galactose-Alpha-1,3-Galactose in the Elicitation of Delayed Anaphylactic Reactions to Red Meat

Purpose of Review

The alpha-Gal (α-Gal) syndrome is characterized by the presence of IgE antibodies directed at the carbohydrate galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (α-Gal). In this article, we review the presence of α-Gal in food and non-food sources; we discuss the evolutionary context of the antibody response to α-Gal and highlight immune responses to α-Gal and other carbohydrates.

Recent findings

IgE antibodies have been associated with delayed allergy to red meat. In addition to food, drugs, and other products of animal origin are increasingly perceived as a risk for patients sensitized to α-Gal. The link between tick bites and anti-α-Gal IgE-antibody production that has been established first by epidemiological studies has now been confirmed in mouse models.

Summary

The anti-α-Gal immune response is complex and characterized by a unique feature. IgM and IgG antibodies have been found to confer protection against pathogens whereas the IgE-response to α-Gal is detrimental and causes severe reactions upon exposure to mammalian meat and other products.

Seed Metabolome Analysis of a Transgenic Rice Line Expressing Cholera Toxin B-subunit

Plant-based human vaccines have been actively developed in recent years, and rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the best candidate crops for their production and delivery. By expressing a modified cholera toxin B (CTB) subunit, we previously developed MucoRice-CTB, a rice-based vaccine against cholera, which is caused by infection of the intestine with the bacteria Vibrio cholerae. MucoRice-CTB lines have been extensively characterized by whole-genome sequencing and proteome analyses to evaluate the mutation profiles and proteome status, respectively. Here, we report non-targeted metabolomic profiling of the MucoRice-CTB transgenic rice line 51A (MR-CTB51A), MucoRice-RNAi (MR-RNAi), and their non-transgenic parent line by using gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The levels of several amino acids, organic acids, carbohydrates, lipids, and secondary metabolites were significantly increased in MR-CTB51A compared with the non-transgenic parent line. These metabolomics results complement essential information obtained by genome sequencing and proteomics approaches, thereby contributing to comprehensive understanding of the properties of MucoRice-CTB as a plant-based vaccine.

Molecular features of grass allergens and development of biotechnological approaches for allergy prevention

Allergic diseases are characterized by elevated allergen-specific IgE and excessive inflammatory cell responses. Among the reported plant allergens, grass pollen and grain allergens, derived from agriculturally important members of the Poaceae family such as rice, wheat and barley, are the most dominant and difficult to prevent. Although many allergen homologs have been predicted from species such as wheat and timothy grass, fundamental aspects such as the evolution and function of plant pollen allergens remain largely unclear. With the development of genetic engineering and genomics, more primary sequences, functions and structures of plant allergens have been uncovered, and molecular component-based allergen-specific immunotherapies are being developed. In this review, we aim to provide an update on (i) the distribution and importance of pollen and grain allergens of the Poaceae family, (ii) the origin and evolution, and functional aspects of plant pollen allergens, (iii) developments of allergen-specific immunotherapy for pollen allergy using biotechnology and (iv) development of less allergenic plants using gene engineering techniques. We also discuss future trends in revealing fundamental aspects of grass pollen allergens and possible biotechnological approaches to reduce the amount of pollen allergens in grasses.

Basophil activation test: food challenge in a test tube or specialist research tool?

Oral food challenge (OFC) is the gold-standard to diagnose food allergy; however, it is a labour and resource-intensive procedure with the risk of causing an acute allergic reaction, which is potentially severe. Therefore, OFC are reserved for cases where the clinical history and the results of skin prick test and/or specific IgE do not confirm or exclude the diagnosis of food allergy. This is a significant proportion of patients seen in Allergy clinics and results in a high demand for OFC. The basophil activation test (BAT) has emerged as a new diagnostic test for food allergy. With high diagnostic accuracy, it can be particularly helpful in the cases where skin prick test and specific IgE are equivocal and may allow reducing the need for OFC. BAT has high specificity, which confers a high degree of certainty in confirming the diagnosis of food allergy and allows deferring the performance of OFC in patients with a positive BAT. The diagnostic utility of BAT is allergen-specific and needs to be validated for different allergens and in specific patient populations. Standardisation of the laboratory methodology and of the data analyses would help to enable a wider clinical application of BAT.

Evaluation of allergenic potential for rice seed protein components utilizing a rice proteome database and an allergen database in combination with IgE-binding of recombinant proteins

Among 131 rice endosperm proteins previously identified by MS-based proteomics, most of the proteins showed low or almost no sequence similarity to known allergens in databases, whereas nine proteins did it significantly. The sequence of two proteins showed high overall identity with Hsp70-like hazel tree pollen allergen (Cor a 10) and barley α-amylase (Hor v 16), respectively, whereas the others showed low identity (28–58%) with lemon germin-like protein (Cit l 1), corn zein (Zea m 50 K), wheat chitinase-like xylanase inhibitor (Tri a XI), and kinase-like pollen allergen of Russian thistle (Sal k 1). Immuno-dot blot analysis showed that recombinant proteins for these rice seed homologs were positive in the IgE-binding, but not necessarily similarity dependent, from some allergic patients. These results suggest that utilization of proteome and sequence databases in combination with IgE-binding analysis was effective to screen and evaluate allergenic potential of rice seed protein components.

Carbohydrates as food allergens

The literature supports the notion that carbohydrate epitopes, on their own, do not contribute significantly to the induction of allergic reactions. They bind weakly to IgE antibodies and have been termed as cross reactive carbohydrate determinants. These epitopes cause confusion in in vitro IgE testing through nonspecific cross-reactivity. Coincident with the rising trends in food allergy prevalence, there has recently been reports of anaphylaxis induced by carbohydrate epitopes. There are two distinct groups, each with unique characteristics and geographical distribution. Anaphylaxis and acute allergic reactions related to the carbohydrate galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-Gal) epitope that are present in the monoclonal antibody, cetuximab and red meat have been described in the United States and Europe populations where tick bites have been found to be the primary sensitizer. Another carbohydrate inducing anaphylaxis is galacto-oligosaccharides in commercial milk formula which has been described in the several Asian populations including Singapore. The latter is unique in that the allergen is a pure carbohydrate. We summarize the current literature on carbohydrate-induced food allergy, and evaluate the two new groups of carbohydrate allergy that have defied previous findings on carbohydrates and their role.

Differential analysis of protein expression in RNA-binding-protein transgenic and parental rice seeds cultivated under salt stress

Transgenic plants tolerant to various environmental stresses are being developed to ensure a consistent food supply. We used a transgenic rice cultivar with high saline tolerance by introducing an RNA-binding protein (RBP) from the ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum); differences in salt-soluble protein expression between nontransgenic (NT) and RBP rice seeds were analyzed by 2D difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE), a gel-based proteomic method. To identify RBP-related changes in protein expression under salt stress, NT and RBP rice were cultured with or without 200 mM sodium chloride. Only two protein spots differed between NT and RBP rice seeds cultured under normal conditions, one of which was identified as a putative abscisic acid-induced protein. In NT rice seeds, 91 spots significantly differed between normal and salt-stress conditions. Two allergenic proteins of NT rice seeds, RAG1 and RAG2, were induced by high salt. In contrast, RBP rice seeds yielded seven spots and no allergen spots with significant differences in protein expression between normal and salt-stress conditions. Therefore, expression of fewer proteins was altered in RBP rice seeds by high salt than those in NT rice seeds.

RNAi-mediated suppression of endogenous storage proteins leads to a change in localization of overexpressed cholera toxin B-subunit and the allergen protein RAG2 in rice seeds

RNAi-mediated suppression of the endogenous storage proteins in MucoRice-CTB-RNAi seeds affects not only the levels of overexpressed CTB and RAG2 allergen, but also the localization of CTB and RAG2. A purification-free rice-based oral cholera vaccine (MucoRice-CTB) was previously developed by our laboratories using a cholera toxin B-subunit (CTB) overexpression system. Recently, an advanced version of MucoRice-CTB was developed (MucoRice-CTB-RNAi) through the use of RNAi to suppress the production of the endogenous storage proteins 13-kDa prolamin and glutelin, so as to increase CTB expression. The level of the α-amylase/trypsin inhibitor-like protein RAG2 (a major rice allergen) was reduced in MucoRice-CTB-RNAi seeds in comparison with wild-type (WT) rice. To investigate whether RNAi-mediated suppression of storage proteins affects the localization of overexpressed CTB and major rice allergens, we generated an RNAi line without CTB (MucoRice-RNAi) and investigated gene expression, and protein production and localization of two storage proteins, CTB, and five major allergens in MucoRice-CTB, MucoRice-CTB-RNAi, MucoRice-RNAi, and WT rice. In all lines, glyoxalase I was detected in the cytoplasm, and 52- and 63-kDa globulin-like proteins were found in the aleurone particles. In WT, RAG2 and 19-kDa globulin were localized mainly in protein bodies II (PB-II) of the endosperm cells. Knockdown of glutelin A led to a partial destruction of PB-II and was accompanied by RAG2 relocation to the plasma membrane/cell wall and cytoplasm. In MucoRice-CTB, CTB was localized in the cytoplasm and PB-II. In MucoRice-CTB-RNAi, CTB was produced at a level six times that in MucoRice-CTB and was localized, similar to RAG2, in the plasma membrane/cell wall and cytoplasm. Our findings indicate that the relocation of CTB in MucoRice-CTB-RNAi may contribute to down-regulation of RAG2.

Identification of rice proteins recognized by the IgE antibodies of patients with food allergies

Similarity among food allergens is a great problem affecting the specificity of diagnosis and treatment of allergic patients. We have observed that 80% of patients with food (including wheat) and pollen allergies have increased IgE antibodies against rice proteins. By immunoblotting, we documented that boiling decreased solubility and IgE reactivity of PBS-extracted rice and wheat proteins, yet in SDS extracts this reactivity was only slightly changed. The sera of patients highly positive on the IgE immunoblot and positive in basophil activation and skin prick test with boiled rice components were used for characterizing the IgE-binding proteins separated by 1D or 2D electrophoresis. Using mass spectrometry, we identified 22 rice SDS soluble proteins. Six of them were new thermostable potential rice allergens: glutelin C precursor, granule-bound starch synthase 1 protein, disulfide isomerase-like 1-1 protein, hypothetical protein OsI_13867, putative acid phosphatase precursor 1, and a protein encoded by locus Os02g0453600. All of the identified rice proteins differed from known wheat allergens, except proteins belonging to the α-amylase/trypsin inhibitor family. Furthermore, we would suggest that in patients with high IgE reactivity to wheat and rice components, the IgE immunoblot and skin prick test with boiled rice proteins could be beneficial before diet recommendation.

MucoRice-cholera toxin B-subunit, a rice-based oral cholera vaccine, down-regulates the expression of α-amylase/trypsin inhibitor-like protein family as major rice allergens

To develop a cold chain- and needle/syringe-free rice-based cholera vaccine (MucoRice-CTB) for human use, we previously advanced the MucoRice system by introducing antisense genes specific for endogenous rice storage proteins and produced a molecularly uniform, human-applicable, high-yield MucoRice-CTB devoid of plant-associated sugar. To maintain the cold chain-free property of this vaccine for clinical application, we wanted to use a polished rice powder preparation of MucoRice-CTB without further purification but wondered whether this might cause an unexpected increase in rice allergen protein expression levels in MucoRice-CTB and prompt safety concerns. Therefore, we used two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis and shotgun MS/MS proteomics to compare rice allergen protein expression levels in MucoRice-CTB and wild-type (WT) rice. Both proteomics analyses showed that the only notable change in the expression levels of rice allergen protein in MucoRice-CTB, compared with those in WT rice, was a decrease in the expression levels of α-amylase/trypsin inhibitor-like protein family such as the seed allergen protein RAG2. Real-time PCR analysis showed mRNA of RAG2 reduced in MucoRice-CTB seed. These results demonstrate that no known rice allergens appear to be up-reregulated by genetic modification of MucoRice-CTB, suggesting that MucoRice-CTB has potential as a safe oral cholera vaccine for clinical application.

Identification of an abundant 56 kDa protein implicated in food allergy as granule-bound starch synthase

Rice, the staple food of south and east Asian counties, is considered to be hypoallergenic. However, several clinical studies have documented rice-induced allergy in sensitive patients. Rice proteins with molecular weights of 14-16, 26, 33, and 56 kDa have been identified as allergens. Recently, it was documented that the 56 kDa rice allergen was responsible for rice-induced anaphylaxis. The 14-16 kDa allergens have been identified as α-amylase inhibitors; the 26 kDa protein has been identified as α-globulin; and the 33 kDa protein has been identified as glyoxalase I. However, the identity of the 56 kDa rice allergen has not yet been determined. In this study, we demonstrate that serum from patients allergic to maize shows IgE binding to a 56 kDa protein that was present in both maize and rice but not in the oil seeds soybean and peanut. The 56 kDa IgE-binding protein was abundant in the rice endosperm. We have purified this protein from rice endosperm and demonstrated its reactivity to IgE antibodies from the serum of maize-allergic patients. The purified protein was subjected to matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight-tandem mass spectrometry analysis, resulting in identification of this rice allergen as granule-bound starch synthase, a product of the Waxy gene. Immunoblot analysis using protein extracts from a waxy mutant of rice revealed the absence of the 56 kDa IgE-binding protein. Our results demonstrate that the 56 kDa rice allergen is granule-bound starch synthase and raise the possibility of using waxy mutants of rice as a potential source of the hypoallergenic diet for patients sensitized to the 56 kDa rice allergen.

Allergenic potential of rice-pollen proteins: expression, immuno-cross reactivity and IgE-binding

Pollen proteins from several grass species have been identified and characterized as causative allergens in grass pollinosis. In contrast, allergenic potential of pollen proteins from rice, which belongs to the same Poaceae family, has not well been investigated, despite that a few clinical cases have been reported on rice-pollen allergy. In this study, to characterize expression and allergenic potential of pollen proteins from rice (Oryza sativa, ssp. japonica), rice putative proteins for β-expansin (EXP), a Ca(2+)-binding protein (CBP)/polcalcin, extensin (EXT), profilin (PRF) and polygalacturonase (PGA) retrieved from a rice complete cDNA database were prepared as recombinant proteins, and the antibodies to these recombinant proteins were obtained. Immuno-blotting and immuno-histological analyses showed that rice putative EXP, EXT and PGA were expressed abundantly in anther tissue and pollen granules and immuno-cross reactive with pollen proteins from timothy grass. ELISA and immuno-dot blotting analyses using serum specimens from allergic patients showed that majority of the specimens was positive in the IgE-binding to EXP and EXT, but weakly to PGA and almost negative to PRF. EXP and EXT were suggested to be potentially allergenic in the rice-pollen allergy as well as the grass pollinosis.