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Aud-in S, Juprasong Y, Pinkaew B, Talek K, Tantilipikorn P, Songnuan W. Incidence of grass and weed sensitization in Bangkok, Thailand: a clinical study. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1301095. [PMID: 38605873 PMCID: PMC11007029 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1301095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a prevalent public health concern globally, significantly impacting quality of life. In Thailand, the prevalence of AR is rising, with grass and weed pollen identified as primary outdoor triggers. Objectives This study aimed to (1) assess patterns of pollen sensitization in Thai AR patients and (2) investigate correlations between demographics/clinical data and SPT results. Methods A total of 121 individuals aged ≥18 years with clinically diagnosed AR were recruited. Skin prick testing (SPT) was performed using a panel of commonly encountered tropical grass and weed pollen extracts. SPT wheal sizes and clinical symptom scores were recorded. Correlations between SPT outcomes and symptom scores were analyzed. Results Among the participants, 104 (85.95%) exhibited positive SPT reactions to at least one pollen type. Nutsedge (76/121), para grass (57/121), and Bermuda grass (48/121) were the most frequently identified allergens. Hurricane grass elicited the strongest reaction, evidenced by the highest average wheal size (6.2 mm). Poly-sensitization was observed in 77 (63.6%) of the SPT-positive individuals, with most cases involving two different pollen extracts (35/77). Notably, AR severity positively correlated with both average wheal size and the number of positive SPT tests. Conclusion This study highlights nutsedge, para grass, and Bermuda grass as major allergenic pollen sources for Thai AR patients. Including nutsedge, hurricane grass, and careless weed in clinical SPT panels is recommended for improved diagnostic accuracy. Additionally, the positive correlation between AR severity and pollen reaction strength emphasizes the importance of implementing patient education and avoidance strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirirat Aud-in
- Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Systems Biology of Diseases Research Unit, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Yotin Juprasong
- Systems Biology of Diseases Research Unit, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Graduate Program in Toxicology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology (EHT), Office of the Permanent Secretary (OPS), Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Bannapuch Pinkaew
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Division of Rhinology and Allergy, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kanokporn Talek
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Division of Rhinology and Allergy, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Pongsakorn Tantilipikorn
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Division of Rhinology and Allergy, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Research Excellence in Allergy and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Wisuwat Songnuan
- Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Systems Biology of Diseases Research Unit, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology (EHT), Office of the Permanent Secretary (OPS), Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Research Excellence in Allergy and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Guryanova SV, Finkina EI, Melnikova DN, Bogdanov IV, Bohle B, Ovchinnikova TV. How Do Pollen Allergens Sensitize? Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:900533. [PMID: 35782860 PMCID: PMC9245541 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.900533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant pollen is one of the main sources of allergens causing allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis and asthma. Several allergens in plant pollen are panallergens which are also present in other allergen sources. As a result, sensitized individuals may also experience food allergies. The mechanism of sensitization and development of allergic inflammation is a consequence of the interaction of allergens with a large number of molecular factors that often are acting in a complex with other compounds, for example low-molecular-mass ligands, which contribute to the induction a type 2-driven response of immune system. In this review, special attention is paid not only to properties of allergens but also to an important role of their interaction with lipids and other hydrophobic molecules in pollen sensitization. The reactions of epithelial cells lining the nasal and bronchial mucosa and of other immunocompetent cells will also be considered, in particular the mechanisms of the activation of B and T lymphocytes and the formation of allergen-specific antibody responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana V. Guryanova
- Science-Educational Center, M. M. Shemyakin & Yu. A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, The Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Medical Institute, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, The Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ekaterina I. Finkina
- Science-Educational Center, M. M. Shemyakin & Yu. A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, The Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Daria N. Melnikova
- Science-Educational Center, M. M. Shemyakin & Yu. A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, The Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ivan V. Bogdanov
- Science-Educational Center, M. M. Shemyakin & Yu. A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, The Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Barbara Bohle
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tatiana V. Ovchinnikova
- Science-Educational Center, M. M. Shemyakin & Yu. A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, The Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Biotechnology, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
- *Correspondence: Tatiana V. Ovchinnikova,
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Juprasong Y, Songnuan W. Plant Stress Scenarios Differentially Affect Expression and IgE Reactivity of Grass Group-1 Allergen (β-Expansin) in Maize and Rice Pollen. FRONTIERS IN ALLERGY 2022; 3:807387. [PMID: 35386660 PMCID: PMC8974862 DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2022.807387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Grass pollen is among the most common outdoor aeroallergens eliciting pollen allergies throughout the world. Grass group-1 allergen or β-expansin is recognized as a major pollen allergen, particularly in the grass family Poaceae. Expression of β-expansin has been shown to be dynamic and can be influenced by environmental stresses. This study evaluated the relative expression of β-expansin and IgE-binding ability of crude pollen extract protein of rice and maize under three different stress conditions: flood, salt, and drought. After 1 week of treatments, anthers containing pollen were collected followed by RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis. To evaluate relative expression, qRT-PCR was performed using specific primers for β-expansin and reference genes. Physiological characteristics of treated and untreated maize and rice: plant height; fresh weight of anthers; number of inflorescences, anthers, and pollen grains were also recorded. To assess IgE-binding ability of proteins in rice pollen extracts, soluble crude proteins were extracted and IgE immunoblot and ELISA were performed using serum samples from grass-allergic subjects and healthy control donors. Results showed that plant height, fresh weight of anthers, number of inflorescences, anthers, and pollen grains of both maize and rice decreased significantly under drought stress conditions, but not in other conditions. Expression of β-expansin in pollen of rice showed an apparent increase in all stress treatments relative to control samples. In contrast, a significant decrease of β-expansin expression was detected in maize pollen under all stress-treated conditions. IgE-reactive protein bands from rice pollen extract proteins were ~30 kDa, as expected of the grass-group 1 protein. The intensity of IgE-reactive protein bands and the level of IgE to rice pollen proteins showed significant differences among stress conditions. In conclusion, environmental stresses—flood, salt, and drought, can elicit a change of β-expansin expression and IgE reactivity to grass group-1 pollen allergens. Changes in expression level of this gene likely reflected its importance during stress. However, the response is highly dependent on different schemes employed by each plant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yotin Juprasong
- Graduate Program in Toxicology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Systems Biology of Diseases Research Unit, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Wisuwat Songnuan
- Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Systems Biology of Diseases Research Unit, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- *Correspondence: Wisuwat Songnuan
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Marinho JBR, Soto-Blanco B. Toxicological Risk Assessment of the Accidental Ingestion of a Honeybee ( Apis mellifera L.) Present in Food. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:583286. [PMID: 33134363 PMCID: PMC7561407 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.583286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present work was to evaluate the possible risk of toxic effects due to the ingestion of a honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) accidentally present in food. The methodology used in this study was a bibliographic survey of studies on the toxic effects related to honeybees, with a critical analysis of the possible risks of accidental ingestion of these insects. The amount of venom present in a bee is considered insufficient to induce detectable toxic effects in a person who ingests it by accident, and various components of the venom are destroyed by gastric secretions. However, despite the rare frequency, there is a risk of the ingestion of a bee, causing an allergic reaction to some components of the venom in sensitized individuals. In addition, pollen carried by a bee may cause an allergic reaction in a sensitive individual. Thus, the accidental ingestion of a bee present in a food does not pose the risk of toxic effects for the majority of the population but may promote allergic reactions in susceptible individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Baeça Rezende Marinho
- Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery, Veterinary College, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Benito Soto-Blanco
- Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery, Veterinary College, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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