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Menna T, Cassese G, Modugno F, Chersi A, Buono C, Ruffilli A. Characterization of a dodecapeptide containing a dominant epitope of Par j 1 and Par o 1, the major allergens of P. judaica and P. officinalis pollen. Allergy 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.1999.tb05151.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Rossi RE, Monasterolo G, Coco G, Operti D. Possible relationship between systemic side effects and sensitization to rPar j 2 in allergic patients submitted to an ultra-rush (20 min) sublingual immunotherapy and selected by component resolved diagnosis. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2005; 138:105-10. [PMID: 16174987 DOI: 10.1159/000088431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2005] [Accepted: 06/01/2005] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The pollen of Parietaria spp., a weed of the Urticaceae family, is a major cause of respiratory allergy in the Mediterranean area, where the most common species are Parietaria judaica and Parietaria officinalis. In this study, we evaluated the specific serum IgE-binding profiles to individual P. judaica pollen recombinant major allergen, and Phleum pratense cytoskeletal profilin and a 2-EF-hand calcium-binding allergen homologous to cross-reactive Parietaria pollen allergens, in patients allergic to pollen with positive skin test towards Parietaria spp. extract. METHODS The present observation included 220 patients from the province of Cuneo, north-west Italy, all suffering from rhino-conjunctivitis and/or asthma selected on the basis of skin test positive to P. judaica extract. The sera were evaluated for specific IgE reactivity to P. judaica pollen major recombinant(r) allergen Par j 2, Phleum pratense pollen allergens rPhl p 7 (2-EF-hand calcium binding protein) and rPhl p 12 (profilin), both identified as cross-reactive Parietaria spp. allergens, using Pharmacia CAP System. Out of 220 patients, 37 patients with IgE reactivity to rPar j 2 and 105 patients sensitized to at least one timothy pollen major allergen (i. e. rPhl p 1, rPhl p 2, natural Phl p 4 and rPhl p 6) were submitted to an ultra-rush protocol of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). The occurrence of adverse reactions were evaluated in both groups. RESULTS All 220 patients with pollinosis and positive in vivo skin prick tests had in vitro positive CAP results to P. judaica natural extract. On the contrary, in these patients the prevalence of Par j 2-specific IgE was only 33.2% (73/220). In fact, 116/220 (52.7%) patients with serum specific IgE to crude Parietaria pollen extract had specific IgE to Phl p 12, 18/220 (8.1%) subjects with specific IgE to rPhl p 12 also exhibited specific IgE to Phl p 7 and 26/220 (11.8%) subjects had specific IgE against rPhl p 7. Particularly, geometric mean (25th-75th percentile) of specific IgE to rPar j 2 were as follows: 2.87 kUA/l (1.005-7.465). Out of 73 patients with specific IgE to rPar j 2, 7 subjects (9.6%) had also specific IgE to rPhl p 7, 12 (16.4%) had specific IgE to rPhl p 12 and 4 (4.1%) patients had specific IgE to both recombinant allergens. Of 37 patients under an ultra-rush protocol of SLIT, 3 subjects (8.1%) experienced generalized urticaria, and 1 of them also had diarrhea 3 h after the last dose of Parietaria judaica extract oral-vaccine administration. On the contrary, no systemic reactions were observed in 105 patients after Phleum pratense extract oral intake after a similar ultra-rush SLIT protocol (p = 0.0046). CONCLUSIONS In the light of present findings, allergen extract-based diagnosis, in vivo and in vitro, cannot discriminate allergic patients that are genuinely sensitized to Parietaria spp. major allergens or to other major allergens to which current immunotherapeutic allergy extracts are standardized. Therefore, in vitro component resolved diagnosis is the unique tool to define the disease eliciting molecule(s). Finally, during sublingual immunotherapy, not only the dose of allergen, but also the biochemical characteristic of the major allergen administered may be an important factor in determining possible systemic reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- R E Rossi
- Allergy Unit National Health Service, Regione Piemonte, Cuneo, Italy.
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Vega-Maray AM, Fernández-González D, Valencia-Barrera R, Polo F, Seoane-Camba JA, Sudrez-Cervera M. Lipid transfer proteins in Parietaria judaica L. pollen grains: immunocytochemical localization and function. Eur J Cell Biol 2005; 83:493-7. [PMID: 15540466 DOI: 10.1078/0171-9335-00406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Parietariajudaica L. (Urticaceae) pollen is considered one of the most common causes of allergic respiratory symptoms in the Mediterranean area. The localization of lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) in P. judaica mature and hydrated-activated pollen grains was investigated applying a combination of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with immunocytochemical methods. Our results show that the content of LTPs in P. judaica pollen grains changes during the process of hydration. The localization of judaica LTPs in the cytoplasm and in the lipid bodies associated with vacuoles demonstrated that LTPs represent primarily intracellular proteins. On the other hand, exposure of the pollen grains to germination medium induced the release of LTPs from the pollen grain. Thus, LTPs are cytoplasmic proteins that are secreted to become available for pollen-stigma interactions and probably induce the IgE antibody responses in allergic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Vega-Maray
- Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of León, León, Spain
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Sharma S, Panzani RC, Gaur SN, Ariano R, Singh AB. Evaluation of Cross-Reactivity between Holoptelea integrifolia and Parietaria judaica. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2005; 136:103-12. [PMID: 15650307 DOI: 10.1159/000083317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2004] [Accepted: 09/22/2004] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Holoptelea integrifolia and Parietaria judaica belong to the family Urticaceae, but are geographically distantly located. H. integrifolia is an important pollen allergen of India and sensitizes almost 10% of the atopic population in Delhi. P. judaica, on the other hand, is a very dominant pollen allergen of the Mediterranean region, sensitizing almost 80% of the allergic population. Since both these important pollen allergens belong to the family Urticaceae, the objective of the present study was to assess cross-reactivity between these two pollen allergens from different geographical regions. METHODS Cross-reactivity between these two pollen allergens was assessed on the basis of skin prick tests and ELISA, ELISA inhibition and immunoblot inhibition studies. RESULTS Out of 44 atopic Indian patients skin prick tested with H. integrifolia extract, 34% were found to be sensitized. All the patients sensitized to H. integrifolia also showed varying degrees of skin positivity to P. judaica pollen extract. ELISA and ELISA inhibition studies suggested strong cross-reactivity between H. integrifolia and P. judaica pollen. Immunoblot inhibition studies revealed that 14-, 16-, 28-, 38-, 42- and 46-kDa proteins are the cross-reactive proteins in H. integrifolia and P. judaica. However, Par j 1, the major allergen of P. judaica, is absent in H. integrifolia pollen. CONCLUSION H. integrifolia and P. judaica pollens share cross-reactive as well as unique epitopes. The major allergen of P. judaica, Par j 1, seems to be absent in H. integrifolia pollen allergen.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Sharma
- Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi University, Delhi, India
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Colombo P, Bonura A, Costa M, Izzo V, Passantino R, Locorotondo G, Amoroso S, Geraci D. The allergens of Parietaria. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2003; 130:173-9. [PMID: 12660421 DOI: 10.1159/000069520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Parietaria is a genus of dicotyledonous weeds of the Urticaceae family including several species and its pollen grain is one of the most important allergenic sources in the Mediterranean area. Species belonging to this genus induce IgE responses in approximately 10 million people. Identification of allergens by means of independent strategies suggest that the allergens of the two more common species, Parietaria judaica and Parietaria Officinalis, show molecular weights ranging between 10 and 14 kD and that the allergens of the two extracts are highly cross-reactive. Biochemical analysis and molecular cloning allowed the isolation and immunological characterization of the two major allergens of the P. judaica pollen, Par j 1 and Par j 2. Sequence comparison suggests that the P j major allergens of P. Judaica belong to the nonspecific lipid transfer protein family, and three-dimensional modeling by homology has revealed that both proteins present a very conserved structural motif composed of four alpha-helices. Immunological analysis has shown that Par j 1 and Par j 2 are able to bind most of the P. Judaica-specific IgE and some of their IgE determinants have been mapped. Recombinant Par j 1 and Par j 2 allergens have been shown to possess immunological properties equivalent to their natural counterpart and their availability represents a fundamental tool for the diagnosis and therapy of Parietaria pollen allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Colombo
- Istituto di Biomedicina e di Immunologia Molecolare Alberto Monroy del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Palermo, Italy.
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D'Agostino B, Advenier C, de Palma R, Gallelli L, Marrocco G, Abbate GF, Rossi F. The involvement of sensory neuropeptides in airway hyper-responsiveness in rabbits sensitized and challenged to Parietaria judaica. Clin Exp Allergy 2002; 32:472-9. [PMID: 11940080 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2222.2002.01328.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND C-fibres have received considerable attention in the context of airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR), in fact several lines of evidence suggest that tachykinins might be involved in the pathogenesis of AHR. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the role of capsaicin-sensitive sensory C-fibres and tachykinins in rabbits sensitized to the major allergen of Parietaria judaica pollen (Par j1). METHODS Airway responsiveness was determined by exposing sensitized rabbits to cumulative concentrations of aerosolized histamine before and after an allergic challenge and after a pre-treatment with either vehicle or capsaicin or tachykinin receptor antagonists. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed following histamine challenge and total and differential cell counts were performed. RESULTS In sensitized rabbits, an AHR to inhaled histamine was observed 24 h after a Par j1 challenge. Capsaicin pre-treatment inhibited the AHR achieved 24 h following antigen exposure (P < 0.01). Pre-treatment with the tachykinin NK2 receptor antagonist, SR 48968, significantly reduced the antigen-induced AHR (P < 0.05), while pre-treatment with tachykinin NK1 (SR 140333) and NK3 (SR 142801) receptor antagonists did not significantly modify it. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained from vehicle and capsaicin-treated rabbits challenged with Par j1 exhibited no significant differences in total and differential cell counts. CONCLUSIONS Parietaria judaica-induced AHR in immunized rabbits was shown to be inhibited by pre-treatment with capsaicin, an effect that is not related to an action on the associated pulmonary infiltration of eosinophils. The involvement of NK2 receptor stimulation in this phenomenon also suggests that NK2 receptor antagonists may be useful for investigating mechanisms of bronchopulmonary alterations in asthmatic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- B D'Agostino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, 2nd University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
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Parronchi P, Sampognaro S, Annunziato F, Brugnolo F, Radbruch A, Di Modugno F, Ruffilli A, Romagnani S, Maggi E. Influence of both TCR repertoire and severity of the atopic status on the cytokine secretion profile of Parietaria officinalis-specific T cells. Eur J Immunol 1998; 28:37-46. [PMID: 9485184 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1521-4141(199801)28:01<37::aid-immu37>3.0.co;2-c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from both nonatopic and Parietaria officinalis-sensitive donors proliferated in response to the allergen Par o 1 and developed into Par o 1-specific T cell lines and clones, which also showed reactivity for Par o 1-derived peptides. Virtually all Par o 1-specific T cell lines and large numbers of Par o 1-specific T cell clones proliferated in response to two Par o 1 nonapeptides (p92 and p96), which probably contain immunodominant epitopes of the Par o 1 allergen. Both p92- and p96-specific T cell clones showed the ability to produce IFN-gamma, but p92-specific T cell clones produced significantly lower amounts of IL-4 and IL-5 than p96-specific T cell clones, indicating that distinct epitopes, able to elicit functionally different T helper cell responses, may coexist in Par o 1. However, p92-specific T cell clones derived from atopic subjects with high IgE serum levels (high IgE producers) secreted significantly higher amounts of IL-4 and IL-5 than corresponding T cell clones generated from nonatopic subjects or patients with low IgE serum levels (low IgE producers), whereas p96-specific T cell clones secreted high IL-4 and IL-5 concentrations irrespective of whether they derived from high or low IgE producers. The addition of IL-4 and anti-IL-12 mAb to bulk culture significantly up-regulated the development of p92-specific T cells into IL-4-producing cells, whereas the addition of IL-12 and anti-IL-4 mAb shifted the differentiation of p96-specific T cells towards IFN-gamma-producing cells. Taken together, these results suggest that the cytokine profile of allergen-specific T cells is influenced by both the T cell receptor repertoire and the severity of atopic status and can be modulated, at least in vitro, by stimulation with the specific peptide in the presence, or after removal, of appropriate cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Parronchi
- Istituto di Medicina Interna e Immunoallergologia, University of Florence, Italy
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González Romano ML, Gallego MT, Berrens L. Extraordinary stability of IgE-binding Parietaria pollen allergens in relation to chemically bound flavonoids. Mol Immunol 1996; 33:1287-93. [PMID: 9171888 DOI: 10.1016/s0161-5890(96)00106-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
It is known that the skin-active and IgE-binding components in Parietaria pollen extracts are not restricted to the predominant protein allergens of M(r) 12000-15000, but are present as well among the naturally occurring constituents of M(r) < 10000. Indeed, the IgE-binding Parietaria pollen components are quite heterogeneous, ranging from high- to low-molecular mass, whereby the IgE-binding epitopes display an unusual chemical stability. Furthermore, the pollen of Parietaria species demonstrably contain a high proportion of flavonoid pigments. Since these pollen grains cannot be collected entirely free from non-pollen plant parts, the usual allergenic extracts of Parietaria encompass both the polyphenolic substrate molecules and the enzyme polyphenoloxidase as ingredients for the oxidative generation of flavonol-protein conjugates during the extraction process. In the present work this is illustrated by spectroscopic analyses of the free and bound flavonoids in Parietaria pollen extracts, as well as of the peptide fragments produced from the allergenic proteins by enzymatic or chemical hydrolysis. None of these relatively harsh treatments had a significant effect on the IgE-binding properties of the allergenic (sub-)components, even though detectable proteins in isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting were lost. It is proposed that the extraordinary stability of IgE-binding Parietaria components over a wide molecular range may be attributed to chromophoric flavonoid side-chains as (parts of) the corresponding B-cell epitopes.
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D'Amato M, Scotto d'Abusco A, Maggi E, Menna T, Sacerdoti G, Maurizio SM, Iozzino S, De Santo C, Oreste U, Tosi R, D'Amato G, Baltadijeva D, Bjorkstén B, Freidhoff LR, Lahoz C, Marsh DG, Rashef A, Ruffilli A. Association of responsiveness to the major pollen allergen of Parietaria officinalis with HLA-DRB1* alleles: a multicenter study. Hum Immunol 1996; 46:100-6. [PMID: 8727208 DOI: 10.1016/0198-8859(96)00012-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Parietaria, a plant belonging to the family of Urticaceae, is a major source of allergenic pollen in Europe. In the context of a multinational study, we investigated whether in allergic subjects antibody response towards Par o 1, the major allergen from P. officinalis, was associated with defined HLA-DRB1* alleles. The study population consisted of 234 allergic patients: 65 from Bulgaria, 30 from Israel, 99 from Italy, and 40 from Spain. In the Italian study group, the prevalence of ST positivity to Parietaria was 77%. In Parietaria ST-positive subjects, the prevalences of IgG and IgE serum Ab towards Par o 1 were 91% and 75%, respectively. HLA-DRB1*1101 and/or 1104 were significantly positively associated with the presence of IgG Ab and with high levels of IgE Ab towards this allergen (p = 0.0007 and p = 0.012, respectively). In the Spanish study group, the positive association of DR1100 with responsiveness to Par o 1 was confirmed (p = 0.02, RR = 4, and p = 0.002, RR = 7, for IgG and IgE Ab, respectively). None of the Bulgarian patients had IgE Ab to Par o 1, whereas IgG Ab response was observed in 7 out of 65 subjects and was positively associated with DRB1*1101 and/or 1104 (p = 0.025). In the Israeli study group, responsiveness to Par o 1 was not associated with specific HLA-DRB1* alleles. In conclusion, this study shows that in allergic patients from three European populations antibody response to the major allergen from the pollen of Parietaria is associated with HLA-DRB1*1101 and/or 1104. Our data suggest that this association is stronger in subjects monosensitized to Parietaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D'Amato
- Institute of Cellular Biology, CNR, Rome, Italy
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Scotto d'Abusco AS, De Santo C, Menna T, Coscia MR, Oreste U, Geller-Bernstein C, Ruffilli A. Characterization of a dominant antigenic determinant of Par o I encoded by recombinant DNA. Clin Exp Allergy 1996; 26:223-31. [PMID: 8835131 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.1996.tb00083.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The pollens from Parietaria judaica and Parietaria officinalis are a major cause of pollinosis in Europe. Par o I (13.5 kDa) and Par j I (12 kDa), the major allergens from these species, are highly crossreactive. METHODS We have immunoscreened a P. judaica pollen cDNA expression library with a rabbit antiserum specific for Par j I and with a serum pool from allergic patients. An immunopositive clone containing a 26 bp insert was further characterized. The insert sequence was determined and the beta-galactosidase fusion protein was partially purified by electroelution from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) gels. RESULTS This fusion protein specifically and extensively inhibited Par o I and Par j I binding of a rabbit antiserum and of a serum pool obtained from allergic patients. The antifusion-protein antiserum obtained in a rabbit (anti 6a) specifically precipitated radioiodinated purified Par o I in the double antibody radioimmunoassay (DARIA) and competed with antibodies of sera from allergic patients for the binding to Parietaria pollen extract allergens by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We investigated the prevalence of antibody response towards the 6a epitope in patients naturally sensitized to Parietaria. The presence of 6a specific IgE antibodies was assessed in the sera of 33 patients using inhibition assays. All sera had antibodies with this specificity: the extensive percentage of inhibition reached suggested that they dominated individual ab response. CONCLUSION In conclusion, the antibody response induced by natural exposure to the pollen of Parietaria appears to be higly focused on a single linear antigenic determinant of the major allergens which may play a relevant role in the development of clinical allergy. This report is, to our knowledge, the first description of a dominant linear epitope of a major allergen.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Scotto d'Abusco
- International Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
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11
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Coscia MR, Ruffilli A, Oreste U. Basic isoforms of Par o 1, the major allergen of Parietaria officinalis pollen. Allergy 1995; 50:899-904. [PMID: 8748722 DOI: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.1995.tb02496.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
We describe a group of basic isoforms of Par o 1 (cumulatively referred to as Par o 1b), purified by anion-exchange chromatography. The allergenic activity of Par o 1b was compared with that of the acidic isoform (Par o 1a) by RAST inhibition. Par o 1b showed a cathodic mobility in crossed immunoelectrophoresis. It was found to be homogeneous in SDS-PAGE and SE-HPLC (14.5 kDa), and heterogeneous in PAG-IEF, yielding five IgE-binding bands with pI ranging between 7.9 and 9.6 PAG-IEF individual components were isolated by cation-exchange HPLC. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the main component (pI 8.8) was determined and found to be similar to that of Par o 1a.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Coscia
- Institute of Protein Biochemistry and Enzymology, CNR, Naples, Italy
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12
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Ayuso R, Carreira J, Polo F. Quantitation of the major allergen of several Parietaria pollens by an anti-Par 1 monoclonal antibody-based ELISA. Analysis of crossreactivity among purified Par j 1, Par o 1 and Par m 1 allergens. Clin Exp Allergy 1995; 25:993-9. [PMID: 8556571 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.1995.tb00402.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plants of the genus Parietaria, Urticaceae family, represent a major cause of pollinosis in the Mediterranean area. Different Parietaria species crossreact to a great extent, but studies on the crossreactivity among the major allergens of these pollens have not been carried out so far. OBJECTIVE To develop an immunochemical method to quantify the major Parietaria judaica allergen, Par j 1, as well as to verify the presence of Par j 1-like proteins in different Urticaceae pollens. These proteins would be purified in order to study the cross-reactivity among them. METHODS Immunoaffinity chromatography with a monoclonal antibody, solid-phase enzyme-linked immunoassays and SDS-PAGE. RESULTS A monoclonal antibody-based ELISA for the quantification of Par j 1 has been developed. The assay has a sensitivity of 0.2 ng/mL and shows a high correlation with the allergenic activity of P. judaica extracts determined by radioallergosorbent assay (RAST) inhibition. By means of this assay, proteins homologous to Par j 1 were detected in P. officinalis and P. mauritanica. These proteins (Par o 1 and Par m 1, respectively) were purified by affinity chromatography using the same monoclonal antibody employed in the ELISA. Crossed-inhibition experiments demonstrated that Par j 1, Par o 1, and Par m 1, competed for the binding of specific IgE from a P. judaica-sensitive patients serum pool. CONCLUSION The results here described suggest that shared allergenic epitopes are present in the three main allergens investigated, which may simplify the diagnosis and therapy for Parietaria allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Ayuso
- Alergia e Immunología Abelló S.A., Madrid, Spain
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Affiliation(s)
- G D'Amato
- Department of Chest Diseases, Hospital A. Cardarelli, Naples, Italy
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14
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Ayuso R, Carreira J, Lombardero M, Duffort O, Peris A, Basomba A, Polo F. Isolation by mAb based affinity chromatography of two Par j I isoallergens. Comparison of their physicochemical, immunochemical and allergenic properties. Mol Immunol 1993; 30:1347-54. [PMID: 7694085 DOI: 10.1016/0161-5890(93)90095-s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
We report the identification and separation of two isoallergen components of Par j I, the major allergen from Parietaria judaica pollen. First, electrophoretic conditions for consistently separating both isoforms in an SDS-PAGE system were established, and mol. wt values of 13,000 (isoallergen IA) and 10,500 (isoallergen IB) were estimated. Immunoblot, after SDS-PAGE experiments, with individual P. judaica-sensitive human sera revealed a slightly different IgE-binding pattern for each isoallergen. Four anti-Par j I mAbs were obtained from BALB/c mice immunized with a purified Par j I preparation comprising IA and IB isoallergens. Three mAbs were directed to an epitope shared by both isoallergens, and the fourth one recognized specifically one epitope on Par j IB. Dot-blot experiments with the deglycosylated allergen showed that the mAbs did not recognize the carbohydrate prosthetic group of the molecules. Affinity chromatography using the mAbs allowed the separation of the isoallergens that retained their IgE-binding ability after the purification process. Amino acid composition analyses and partial N-terminal sequencing demonstrated an extensive homology and also the existence of some structural differences between Par j I isoallergens, which is in agreement with the high, but not complete, cross-reactivity observed in competition ELISA experiments. Finally, skin prick tests performed on 28 P. judaica-sensitive patients showed that all of them recognized both isoforms and that allergenic epitopes present in Par j IA and IB are responsible for most of the allergenic activity of the whole extract.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Ayuso
- Departamento Investigación, Alergia e Immunología Abelló S.A., Madrid, Spain
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Abstract
Species of the genus Parietaria (pellitory) are a prevalent cause of allergy in the Mediterranean area and the most important in some European regions such as southern Italy and coastal Spain (14, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 36, 59, 69). Up to now, however, Parietaria has received little attention in northern Europe and the US because of its limited regional distribution. Therefore, less is known about Parietaria allergy than about other inhalant allergens such as those of grasses, ragweed, and mites. During the last 5 years, only 31 reports on Parietaria allergy have appeared in the literature, as compared with 37 papers on birch pollen. This ratio may appear unbalanced, considering that millions of people suffer from pollinosis caused by Parietaria, while a much smaller number have rhinitis and/or asthma caused by birch pollen. The increasing movement of people throughout Europe and to and from the US is reason to broaden our knowledge of patterns of inhalant allergy in each geographic area, especially where tourism and immigration are high. This paper briefly reviews available data and personal studies on the botanical, aerobiological, immunochemical, and clinical features of Parietaria allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- G D'Amato
- Department of Chest Diseases, A. Cardarelli Hospital, Naples, Italy
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Abstract
With the aim of obtaining an efficient but safer vaccine for allergy immunotherapy, the possibility of using liposomes as adjuvants has been considered given their proven low toxicity, adjuvant properties and ability to maintain the encapsulated substance in their interior for some time in vivo. Different methods of encapsulating allergenic extracts into neutral, positively, and negatively charged DPPC: cholesterol liposomes have been investigated and the immune response provoked by these in mice was studied and compared to the immune response to free allergen or other adjuvants such as aluminium hydroxide. The results obtained show that allergen encapsulated in all three types of liposomes elicit an increase in specific IgG levels higher than that provoked by free allergen, however, both encapsulation efficiency and specific IgG titre were higher when positively charged (DPPC: cholesterol stearylamine) liposomes were used. Specific IgE levels to allergen in positive and neutral liposomes was lower than to allergen in negative liposomes or adsorbed to Al(OH)3. No difference were found in the behaviour of liposomes prepared by different methods (the results were obtained from pooled sera from different groups of mice so there is no statistical data). These results confirm the immunoadjuvant effect of liposomes for allergy immunotherapy. Further studies to determine their lack of toxicity, pharmacokinetic studies and human clinical studies are necessary to confirm their adequacy for human use and advantage over current immunotherapy methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Audera
- Alergia e Inmunología, Abelló S.A., Madrid, Spain
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Polo F, Ayuso R, Carreira J. Studies on the relationship between structure and IgE-binding ability of Parietaria judaica allergen I. Mol Immunol 1991; 28:169-75. [PMID: 2011124 DOI: 10.1016/0161-5890(91)90101-o] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The main allergen of Parietaria judaica pollen, Par j I, is a glycopolypeptide with mol. wt about 10,000. It shows a considerable charge heterogeneity which is mostly due to the carbohydrate prosthetic groups, since treatment with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid yielded a deglycosylated protein with 8500 mol. wt that displayed only a few bands on IEF, in a narrow pH-region around 5.0. Deglycosylated Par j I exhibited a specific allergenic activity slightly lower than that of native Par j I; however, no allergenic determinants should be located on the sugar moiety since both native and deglycosylated Par j I inhibited up to a similar extent the binding of specific human IgE to P. judaica-coated wells in ELISA. The decrease of specific allergenic activity following deglycosylation could be ascribed to conformational changes evidenced by CD experiments. On the other hand, fluorescence spectroscopy showed that Par j I bears unidentified yellow-brown chromophores strongly linked to the polypeptide chain. These chromophores were not removed by TFMS treatment. Finally, reduction and alkylation caused the complete loss of allergenic activity, showing that disulphide bridges are essential for the IgE-binding ability of Par j I.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Polo
- Dpto Investigación, Alergia e Inmunologia Abelló S.A., Madrid, Spain
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Abstract
An allergenic protein from Artemisia vulgaris pollen has been purified to homogeneity. Its molecular weight in native conditions is 47,000. The purified allergen, hereafter denominated Art v I, is a monomeric protein. It is a clinically relevant allergen since, at least, 70% of the individuals allergic to Artemisia vulgaris pollen have specific IgE in serum and in mast cells, demonstrated by ELISA and skin prick tests, respectively.
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Abstract
A two-step purification procedure of Par j I from the whole Parietaria judaica pollen extract is described. The first step consisted of gel filtration HPLC using a TSKG 3000 SW column, and 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid as the eluant. By this method, proteins were separated from the highly colored material present in the extract. Then, Par j I-containing fractions were chromatographed on a reversed-phase HPLC column (Vydac C4) using an acetonitrile gradient. This second step yielded pure Par j I as assessed by SDS-PAGE and CIE. Previously reported microheterogeneity was still observed, but amino acid analysis of various RP-HPLC fractions suggested that the heterogeneity of Par j I might not be due to changes in its primary structure. Allergenic activity of Par j I was shown to be retained after the purification procedure by several immunochemical techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Polo
- Departamento Investigación, Alergia e Inmunología Abelló S.A., Madrid, Spain
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