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Gilles-Stein S, Beck I, Chaker A, Bas M, McIntyre M, Cifuentes L, Petersen A, Gutermuth J, Schmidt-Weber C, Behrendt H, Traidl-Hoffmann C. Pollen derived low molecular compounds enhance the human allergen specific immune response in vivo. Clin Exp Allergy 2016; 46:1355-65. [PMID: 27061126 DOI: 10.1111/cea.12739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Revised: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 03/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Besides allergens, pollen release bioactive, low molecular weight compounds that modulate and stimulate allergic reactions. Clinical relevance of these substances has not been investigated to date. OBJECTIVE To elucidate the effect of a non-allergenic, low molecular weight factors from aqueous birch pollen extracts (Bet-APE < 3 kDa) on the human allergic immune response in vivo. METHODS Birch and grass pollen allergic individuals underwent skin prick testing with allergen alone, allergen plus Bet-APE < 3 kDa, or allergen plus pre-identified candidate substances from low molecular pollen fraction. Nasal allergen challenges were performed in non-atopic and pollen allergic individuals using a 3 day repeated threshold challenge battery. Subjects were either exposed to allergen alone or to allergen plus Bet-APE< 3 kDa. Local cytokine levels, nasal secretion weights, nasal congestion and symptom scores were determined. RESULTS Skin prick test reactions to pollen elicited larger weals when allergens were tested together with the low molecular weight compounds from pollen. Similar results were obtained with candidate pollen-associated lipid mediators. In nasal lining fluids of allergic patients challenged with allergen plus Bet-APE < 3 kDa, IL-8 and IgE was significantly increased as compared to allergen-only challenged patients. These patients also produced increased amounts of total nasal secretion and reported more severe rhinorrhea than the allergen-only challenged group. CONCLUSIONS Low molecular compounds from pollen enhance the allergen specific immune response in the skin and nose. They are therefore of potential clinical relevance in allergic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Gilles-Stein
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Augsburg, Germany. .,ZAUM - Center of Allergy & Environment, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany. .,Christine-Kühne-Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK Care), Davos, Switzerland.
| | - I Beck
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Augsburg, Germany.,ZAUM - Center of Allergy & Environment, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - A Chaker
- ZAUM - Center of Allergy & Environment, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany.,ENT Department, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - M Bas
- ENT Department, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - M McIntyre
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - L Cifuentes
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.,Molecular Immunology, Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - A Petersen
- Division of Clinical and Molecular Allergology, Research Center Borstel, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Borstel, Germany
| | - J Gutermuth
- ZAUM - Center of Allergy & Environment, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Dermatology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - C Schmidt-Weber
- ZAUM - Center of Allergy & Environment, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - H Behrendt
- ZAUM - Center of Allergy & Environment, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - C Traidl-Hoffmann
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Augsburg, Germany.,ZAUM - Center of Allergy & Environment, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany.,Christine-Kühne-Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK Care), Davos, Switzerland
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Blume C, Swindle EJ, Gilles S, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Davies DE. Low molecular weight components of pollen alter bronchial epithelial barrier functions. Tissue Barriers 2015; 3:e1062316. [PMID: 26451347 PMCID: PMC4574901 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2015.1062316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Revised: 05/11/2015] [Accepted: 05/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The bronchial epithelium plays a key role in providing a protective barrier against many environmental substances of anthropogenic or natural origin which enter the lungs during breathing. Appropriate responses to these agents are critical for regulation of tissue homeostasis, while inappropriate responses may contribute to disease pathogenesis. Here, we compared epithelial barrier responses to different pollen species, characterized the active pollen components and the signaling pathways leading to epithelial activation. Polarized bronchial cells were exposed to extracts of timothy grass (Phleum pratense), ragweed (Ambrosia artemisifolia), mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), birch (Betula alba) and pine (Pinus sylvestris) pollens. All pollen species caused a decrease in ionic permeability as monitored trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TER) and induced polarized release of mediators analyzed by ELISA, with grass pollen showing the highest activity. Ultrafiltration showed that the responses were due to components <3kDa. However, lipid mediators, including phytoprostane E1, had no effect on TER, and caused only modest induction of mediator release. Reverse-phase chromatography separated 2 active fractions: the most hydrophilic maximally affected cytokine release whereas the other only affected TER. Inhibitor studies revealed that JNK played a more dominant role in regulation of barrier permeability in response to grass pollen exposure, whereas ERK and p38 controlled cytokine release. Adenosine and the flavonoid isorhamnetin present in grass pollen contributed to the overall effect on airway epithelial barrier responses. In conclusion, bronchial epithelial barrier functions are differentially affected by several low molecular weight components released by pollen. Furthermore, ionic permeability and innate cytokine production are differentially regulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Blume
- Brooke Laboratory; Clinical and Experimental Sciences; Faculty of Medicine; University of Southampton; University Hospital Southampton ; Southampton, UK
| | - Emily J Swindle
- Brooke Laboratory; Clinical and Experimental Sciences; Faculty of Medicine; University of Southampton; University Hospital Southampton ; Southampton, UK
| | - Stefanie Gilles
- Institute of Environmental Medicine; UNIKA-T; Technische Universität Munich ; Munich, Germany ; CK CARE; Christine Kühne Center for Allergy Research and Education ; Davos, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann
- Institute of Environmental Medicine; UNIKA-T; Technische Universität Munich ; Munich, Germany ; CK CARE; Christine Kühne Center for Allergy Research and Education ; Davos, Switzerland
| | - Donna E Davies
- Brooke Laboratory; Clinical and Experimental Sciences; Faculty of Medicine; University of Southampton; University Hospital Southampton ; Southampton, UK ; Southampton NIHR Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit; University Hospital Southampton ; Southampton, UK
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