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Chen H, Zhu R. Alternaria Allergy and Immunotherapy. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2024; 185:964-974. [PMID: 38865977 DOI: 10.1159/000539237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is the only known causative treatment for Alternaria allergy, but the difficulty in standardizing Alternaria extracts hampers its effectiveness and safety. SUMMARY Alternaria, a potent airborne allergen, has a high sensitization rate and is known to trigger the onset and exacerbation of respiratory allergies, even inducing fungal food allergy syndrome in some cases. It can trigger a type 2 inflammatory response, leading to an increase in the secretion of type 2 inflammatory cytokines and eosinophils, which are the culprits behind allergic symptoms. Diagnosing Alternaria allergy is a multistep process, involving a careful examination of clinical symptoms, medical history, skin prick tests, serum-specific IgE detection, or provocation tests. Alt a1, the major component of Alternaria, is a vital player in diagnosing Alternaria allergy through component-resolved diagnosis. Interestingly, Alternaria can reduce the protein activity of other allergens like pollen and cat dander when mixed with them. In order to solve the problems of standardization, efficacy and safety of traditional Alternaria AIT, novel AIT methods targeting Alt a1 and innovative vaccines such as epitope, DNA, and mRNA vaccines seem promising in bypassing the standardization issue of Alternaria extracts. But these studies are in early stages, and most researches are still focused on animal models, calling for more evidence to validate their use in humans. KEY MESSAGES This review delves into the various aspects of Alternaria allergy, including characteristics, epidemiology, immune mechanisms, diagnosis, clinical manifestations, and the application and limitations of Alternaria AIT, aiming to provide a foundation for the management of patients with Alternaria allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Chen
- Department of Allergy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China,
| | - Rongfei Zhu
- Department of Allergy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Kallen EJJ, Welsing PMJ, Löwik JM, Van Ree R, Knulst AC, Le TM. The effect of subcutaneous and sublingual birch pollen immunotherapy on birch pollen-related food allergy: a systematic review. FRONTIERS IN ALLERGY 2024; 5:1360073. [PMID: 38903704 PMCID: PMC11187334 DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2024.1360073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Birch pollen-related food allergy (BPFA) is the most common type of food allergy in birch-endemic areas such as Western and Central Europe. Currently, there is no treatment available for BPFA. Due to the cross-reactivity between birch pollen and a range of implicated plant foods, birch pollen allergen immunotherapy (AIT) may be effective in the treatment of BPFA. In this study, we systematically evaluate the effectiveness of birch pollen-specific subcutaneous or sublingual immunotherapy in treating BPFA. Methods A search was performed in the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane libraries. Studies were independently screened by two reviewers against predefined eligibility criteria. The outcomes of interest were changes in (1) severity of symptoms during food challenge, (2) eliciting dose (ED), and (3) food allergy quality of life (FA-QoL). The validity of the selected articles was assessed using the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool. We focused on studies with the lowest risk of bias and considered studies with a high risk of bias as supportive. Data were descriptively summarized. Results Ten studies were selected that included 475 patients in total. Seven studies were categorized into "high risk of bias" and three into "moderate risk of bias." The three moderate risk of bias studies, with a total of 98 patients, reported on severity of symptoms during challenge and on the ED. All three studies had a control group. Compared to the control group, improvement in severity of symptoms was observed during challenge in two out of the three studies and on the eliciting dose in one out of three. Only one study investigated the effect of birch pollen AIT on FA-QoL, showing that there was no significant difference between patients receiving subcutaneous immunotherapy or a placebo. Of the seven supportive studies, four had a control group and of those, three showed improvement on both severity of symptoms and ED. None of the supportive studies investigated the effect of the therapy on FA-QoL. Conclusion This systematic review shows that there is not enough evidence to draw firm conclusions about the effect of AIT on BPFA. Future research is warranted that uses robust clinical studies that include long-term effects, QoL, and multiple BPFA-related foods.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. J. J. Kallen
- Department of Dermatology/Allergology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - P. M. J. Welsing
- Department of Dermatology/Allergology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - J. M. Löwik
- Department of Dermatology/Allergology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - R. Van Ree
- Departments of Experimental Immunology and Otorhinolaryngology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - A. C. Knulst
- Department of Dermatology/Allergology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Centre of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - T. M. Le
- Department of Dermatology/Allergology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Centre of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Đurašinović T, Lopandić Z, Protić-Rosić I, Ravnsborg T, Blagojević G, Burazer L, Jensen ON, Gavrović-Jankulović M. Utilizing the Banana S-Adenosyl-L-Homocysteine Hydrolase Allergen to Identify Cross-Reactive IgE in Ryegrass-, Latex-, and Kiwifruit-Allergic Individuals. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5800. [PMID: 38891986 PMCID: PMC11171677 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Food allergies mediated by specific IgE (sIgE) have a significant socioeconomic impact on society. Evaluating the IgE cross-reactivity between allergens from different allergen sources can enable the better management of these potentially life-threatening adverse reactions to food proteins and enhance food safety. A novel banana fruit allergen, S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase (SAHH), has been recently identified and its recombinant homolog was heterologously overproduced in E. coli. In this study, we performed a search in the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) for SAHH homologs in ryegrass, latex, and kiwifruit, all of which are commonly associated with pollen-latex-fruit syndrome. In addition, Western immunoblot analysis was utilized to identify the cross-reactive IgE to banana SAHH in the sera of patients with a latex allergy, kiwifruit allergy, and ryegrass allergy. ClustalOmega analysis showed more than 92% amino acid sequence identity among the banana SAHH homologs in ryegrass, latex, and kiwifruit. In addition to five B-cell epitopes, in silico analysis predicted eleven T-cell epitopes in banana SAHH, seventeen in kiwifruit SAHH, twelve in ryegrass SAHH, and eight in latex SAHH, which were related to the seven-allele HLA reference set (HLA-DRB1*03:01, HLA-DRB1*07:01, HLA-DRB1*15:01, HLA-DRB3*01:01, HLA-DRB3*02:02, HLA-DRB4*01:01, HLA-DRB5*01:01). Four T-cell epitopes were identical in banana and kiwifruit SAHH (positions 328, 278, 142, 341), as well as banana and ryegrass SAHH (positions 278, 142, 96, and 341). All four SAHHs shared two T-cell epitopes (positions 278 and 341). In line with the high amino acid sequence identity and B-cell epitope homology among the analyzed proteins, the cross-reactive IgE to banana SAHH was detected in three of three latex-allergic patients, five of six ryegrass-allergic patients, and two of three kiwifruit-allergic patients. Although banana SAHH has only been studied in a small group of allergic individuals, it is a novel cross-reactive food allergen that should be considered when testing for pollen-latex-fruit syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Đurašinović
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Military Medical Academy, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Zorana Lopandić
- Institute for Chemistry in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | | | - Tina Ravnsborg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Gordan Blagojević
- Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera “Torlak”, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (G.B.); (L.B.)
| | - Lidija Burazer
- Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera “Torlak”, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (G.B.); (L.B.)
| | - Ole N. Jensen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark
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Gil MV, Fernández-Rivera N, Pastor-Vargas C, Cintas P. Food Allergens: When Friends Become Foes-Caveats and Opportunities for Oral Immunotherapy Based on Deactivation Methods. Nutrients 2023; 15:3650. [PMID: 37630840 PMCID: PMC10458749 DOI: 10.3390/nu15163650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Food allergies represent a serious health concern and, since the 1990s, they have risen gradually in high-income countries. Unfortunately, the problem is complex because genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors may be collectively involved. Prevention and diagnoses have not yet evolved into efficacious therapies. Identification and control of allergens present in edible substances hold promise for multi-purpose biomedical approaches, including oral immunotherapy. This review highlights recent studies and methods to modify the otherwise innocuous native proteins in most subjects, and how oral treatments targeting immune responses could help cancel out the potential risks in hypersensitive individuals, especially children. We have focused on some physical methods that can easily be conducted, along with chemo-enzymatic modifications of allergens by means of peptides and phytochemicals in particular. The latter, accessible from naturally-occurring substances, provide an added value to hypoallergenic matrices employing vegetal wastes, a point where food chemistry meets sustainable goals as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Victoria Gil
- Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, IACYS-Unidad de Química Verde y Desarrollo Sostenible, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
| | - Nuria Fernández-Rivera
- Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, IACYS-Unidad de Química Verde y Desarrollo Sostenible, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
| | - Carlos Pastor-Vargas
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro Cintas
- Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, IACYS-Unidad de Química Verde y Desarrollo Sostenible, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
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Kamath SD, Bublin M, Kitamura K, Matsui T, Ito K, Lopata AL. Cross-reactive epitopes and their role in food allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2023; 151:1178-1190. [PMID: 36932025 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2022.12.827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Allergenic cross-reactivity among food allergens complicates the diagnosis and management of food allergy. This can result in many patients being sensitized (having allergen-specific IgE) to foods without exhibiting clinical reactivity. Some food groups such as shellfish, fish, tree nuts, and peanuts have very high rates of cross-reactivity. In contrast, relatively low rates are noted for grains and milk, whereas many other food families have variable rates of cross-reactivity or are not well studied. Although classical cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants are clinically not relevant, α-Gal in red meat through tick bites can lead to severe reactions. Multiple sensitizations to tree nuts complicate the diagnosis and management of patients allergic to peanut and tree nut. This review discusses cross-reactive allergens and cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants in the major food groups, and where available, describes their B-cell and T-cell epitopes. The clinical relevance of these cross-reactive B-cell and T-cell epitopes is highlighted and their possible impact on allergen-specific immunotherapy for food allergy is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandip D Kamath
- Division of Medical Biotechnology, Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center of Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.
| | - Merima Bublin
- Division of Medical Biotechnology, Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center of Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katsumasa Kitamura
- Department of Allergy, Allergy and Immunology Center, Aichi Children's Health and Medical CenterAichi, Japan
| | - Teruaki Matsui
- Department of Allergy, Allergy and Immunology Center, Aichi Children's Health and Medical CenterAichi, Japan
| | - Komei Ito
- Department of Allergy, Allergy and Immunology Center, Aichi Children's Health and Medical CenterAichi, Japan; Comprehensive Pediatric Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan
| | - Andreas L Lopata
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia; Molecular Allergy Research Laboratory, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia; Tropical Futures Institute, James Cook University, Singapore; Centre for Food and Allergy Research, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
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Sakamoto D, Hamada S, Kobayashi Y, Shimono M, Shimamura A, Kanda A, Asako M, Iwai H. Omalizumab is effective for a patient with pollen-food allergy syndrome who experienced intractable lip edema. Auris Nasus Larynx 2022:S0385-8146(22)00229-2. [PMID: 36581536 DOI: 10.1016/j.anl.2022.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Pollen-food allergy syndrome (PFAS) is an immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergic reaction caused when patients with pollen allergy ingest food having cross-reactivity with pollen. To date, no effective treatment method for this has been established. Here we report the case of a patient with PFAS who experienced lip edema, causing difficulties in treatment. This report describes the case of a 12-year-old boy with perennial allergic rhinitis since the age of 8 years. After ingesting fresh fruits and raw vegetables at the age of 11 years, he started to experience lip edema repeatedly. Thus, the patient was referred to our department. Based on the results of serum antigen-specific IgE, prick-to-prick, and allergen component tests, he was diagnosed with PFAS. He has been instructed to avoid causative food. Furthermore, the treatment using an antihistamine and antileukotriene receptor antagonist was initiated for pollen allergy. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) for Japanese cedar pollen was initiated because the patient experienced severe nasal allergy symptoms during the dispersal season of this pollen. These treatments alleviated the nasal symptoms; however, the lip edema persisted. Omalizumab administration improved the lip edema. The combination of SLIT and omalizumab may be an effective treatment option for patients with PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiki Sakamoto
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and neck surgery, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Satoko Hamada
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and neck surgery, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan; Allergy center, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Yoshiki Kobayashi
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and neck surgery, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan; Allergy center, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masami Shimono
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and neck surgery, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Akihiro Shimamura
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and neck surgery, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Akira Kanda
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and neck surgery, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan; Allergy center, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mikiya Asako
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and neck surgery, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan; Allergy center, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Iwai
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and neck surgery, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
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Recent Advances in the Allergic Cross-Reactivity between Fungi and Foods. J Immunol Res 2022; 2022:7583400. [PMID: 36249419 PMCID: PMC9568318 DOI: 10.1155/2022/7583400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Airborne fungi are one of the most ubiquitous kinds of inhalant allergens which can result in allergic diseases. Fungi tend to grow in warm and humid environments with regional and seasonal variations. Their nomenclature and taxonomy are related to the sensitization of immunoglobulin E (IgE). Allergic cross-reactivity among different fungal species appears to be widely existing. Fungus-related foods, such as edible mushrooms, mycoprotein, and fermented foods by fungi, can often induce to fungus food allergy syndrome (FFAS) by allergic cross-reactivity with airborne fungi. FFAS may involve one or more target organs, including the oral mucosa, the skin, the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, and the cardiovascular system, with various allergic symptoms ranging from oral allergy syndrome (OAS) to severe anaphylaxis. This article reviews the current knowledge on the field of allergic cross-reactivity between fungal allergens and related foods, as well as the diagnosis and treatment on FFAS.
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