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Nassikas NJ, Luttmann-Gibson H, Rifas-Shiman SL, Oken E, Gold DR, Rice MB. Acute exposure to pollen and airway inflammation in adolescents. Pediatr Pulmonol 2024; 59:1313-1320. [PMID: 38353177 PMCID: PMC11058013 DOI: 10.1002/ppul.26908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pollen exposure is known to exacerbate allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis symptoms, yet few studies have investigated if exposure to pollen affects lung function or airway inflammation in healthy children. METHODS We evaluated the extent to which higher pollen exposure was associated with differences in airway inflammation and lung function among 490 early adolescent participants (mean age of 12.9 years) in Project Viva, a prebirth cohort based in Massachusetts. We obtained regional daily total pollen counts, including tree, grass, and weed pollen, from a Rotorod pollen counter. We evaluated associations of 3- and 7-day moving averages of pollen with fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and lung function using linear regression models and evaluated the linearity of associations with penalized splines. We tested if associations of pollen with FeNO and lung function were modified by current asthma diagnosis, history of allergic rhinitis, aeroallergen sensitivity, temperature, precipitation, and air pollution. RESULTS Three- and 7-day median pollen concentrations were 19.0 grains/m3 (IQR: 73.4) and 20.9 grains/m3 (IQR: 89.7). In main models, higher concentrations of total pollen over the preceding 3 and 7 days were associated with a 4.6% (95% CI: 0.1,9.2) and 7.4% (95% CI: 0.9,14.3) higher FeNO per IQR of pollen, respectively. We did not find associations of pollen with lung function in main models. Asthma, allergic rhinitis, precipitation, and air pollution (nitrogen dioxide and ozone) modified associations of pollen with lung function (Pinteraction < 0.1), while temperature, sex, and aeroallergen sensitization did not. CONCLUSION Short-term exposure to pollen was associated with higher FeNO in early adolescents, even in the absence of allergic sensitization and asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J. Nassikas
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | - Heike Luttmann-Gibson
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Sheryl L. Rifas-Shiman
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Emily Oken
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Diane R. Gold
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Mary B. Rice
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
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2
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Cabanillas B. Special Issue "Molecular and Cellular Advances in Atopic Diseases". Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4856. [PMID: 38732073 PMCID: PMC11084155 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Atopic diseases, which currently affect around one billion people worldwide, are experiencing a rising prevalence [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Cabanillas
- Department of Allergy, Instituto de Investigacion Biosanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Avenida de Cordoba s/n, 28041 Madrid, Spain
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3
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Valdelvira R, Costa J, Crespo JF, Cabanillas B. Major peanut allergens are quickly released from peanuts when seeds are hydrated under specific conditions. Food Chem 2024; 437:137901. [PMID: 37922800 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137901] [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: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Allergens release from their biological source is a critical step in allergic sensitization. We sought to investigate in vitro the role of hydration at 1:10 w/v without stirring and 1:5 w/v with and without stirring on the release of major and minor allergens from peanut kernels. We hypothesized that hydration plays a pivotal role in peanut allergens release, affecting major allergens predominantly, and that peanut-water ratio and stirring influence allergen diffusion. We found that major peanut allergen Ara h 1 was quickly released during hydration leading to a decrease in its content in the seed particularly at hydration performed at 1:5 w/v with stirring. Ara h 2 remained more preserved in the hydrated seed, while Ara h 3 showed no content decrease despite its important release into the hydration water. Minor allergens Ara h 8 and Ara h 9 have lower abundance in peanut leading to a reduction of their content in the seed after their diffusion into the water during hydration. The results also demonstrated that a higher seed-to-water ratio (1:5 w/v) and stirring had a more pronounced impact on allergen release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Valdelvira
- Department of Allergy, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Avenida de Córdoba s/n, 28041 Madrid, Spain
| | - Joana Costa
- REQUIMTE-LAQV, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Jesus F Crespo
- Department of Allergy, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Avenida de Córdoba s/n, 28041 Madrid, Spain
| | - Beatriz Cabanillas
- Department of Allergy, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Avenida de Córdoba s/n, 28041 Madrid, Spain.
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Grewling Ł, Ribeiro H, Antunes C, Apangu GP, Çelenk S, Costa A, Eguiluz-Gracia I, Galveias A, Gonzalez Roldan N, Lika M, Magyar D, Martinez-Bracero M, Ørby P, O'Connor D, Penha AM, Pereira S, Pérez-Badia R, Rodinkova V, Xhetani M, Šauliene I, Skjøth CA. Outdoor airborne allergens: Characterization, behavior and monitoring in Europe. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167042. [PMID: 37709071 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Aeroallergens or inhalant allergens, are proteins dispersed through the air and have the potential to induce allergic conditions such as rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthma. Outdoor aeroallergens are found predominantly in pollen grains and fungal spores, which are allergen carriers. Aeroallergens from pollen and fungi have seasonal emission patterns that correlate with plant pollination and fungal sporulation and are strongly associated with atmospheric weather conditions. They are released when allergen carriers come in contact with the respiratory system, e.g. the nasal mucosa. In addition, due to the rupture of allergen carriers, airborne allergen molecules may be released directly into the air in the form of micronic and submicronic particles (cytoplasmic debris, cell wall fragments, droplets etc.) or adhered onto other airborne particulate matter. Therefore, aeroallergen detection strategies must consider, in addition to the allergen carriers, the allergen molecules themselves. This review article aims to present the current knowledge on inhalant allergens in the outdoor environment, their structure, localization, and factors affecting their production, transformation, release or degradation. In addition, methods for collecting and quantifying aeroallergens are listed and thoroughly discussed. Finally, the knowledge gaps, challenges and implications associated with aeroallergen analysis are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Grewling
- Laboratory of Aerobiology, Department of Systematic and Environmental Botany, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Helena Ribeiro
- Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Plannings of the Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto and Earth Sciences Institute (ICT), Portugal
| | - Celia Antunes
- Department of Medical and Health Sciences, School of Health and Human Development & ICT-Institute of Earth Sciences, IIFA, University of Évora, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal
| | | | - Sevcan Çelenk
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Bursa Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Ana Costa
- Department of Medical and Health Sciences, School of Health and Human Development & ICT-Institute of Earth Sciences, IIFA, University of Évora, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal
| | - Ibon Eguiluz-Gracia
- Allergy Unit, Hospital Regional Universitario de Malaga, Malaga 29010, Spain
| | - Ana Galveias
- Department of Medical and Health Sciences, School of Health and Human Development & ICT-Institute of Earth Sciences, IIFA, University of Évora, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal
| | - Nestor Gonzalez Roldan
- Group of Biofunctional Metabolites and Structures, Priority Research Area Chronic Lung Diseases, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Borstel, Germany; Pollen Laboratory, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mirela Lika
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania
| | - Donát Magyar
- National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Pia Ørby
- Department of Environmental Science, Danish Big Data Centre for Environment and Health (BERTHA) Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - David O'Connor
- School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 E432, Ireland
| | - Alexandra Marchã Penha
- Water Laboratory, School of Sciences and Technology, ICT-Institute of Earth Sciences, IIFA, University of Évora. 7000-671 Évora, Portugal
| | - Sónia Pereira
- Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Plannings of the Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto and Earth Sciences Institute (ICT), Portugal
| | - Rosa Pérez-Badia
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | | | - Merita Xhetani
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania
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Raith M, Swoboda I. Birch pollen-The unpleasant herald of spring. FRONTIERS IN ALLERGY 2023; 4:1181675. [PMID: 37255542 PMCID: PMC10225653 DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2023.1181675] [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: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Type I respiratory allergies to birch pollen and pollen from related trees of the order Fagales are increasing in industrialized countries, especially in the temperate zone of the Northern hemisphere, but the reasons for this increase are still debated and seem to be multifaceted. While the most important allergenic molecules of birch pollen have been identified and characterized, the contribution of other pollen components, such as lipids, non-allergenic immunomodulatory proteins, or the pollen microbiome, to the development of allergic reactions are sparsely known. Furthermore, what also needs to be considered is that pollen is exposed to external influences which can alter its allergenicity. These external influences include environmental factors such as gaseous pollutants like ozone or nitrogen oxides or particulate air pollutants, but also meteorological events like changes in temperature, humidity, or precipitation. In this review, we look at the birch pollen from different angles and summarize current knowledge on internal and external influences that have an impact on the allergenicity of birch pollen and its interactions with the epithelial barrier. We focus on epithelial cells since these cells are the first line of defense in respiratory disease and are increasingly considered to be a regulatory tissue for the protection against the development of respiratory allergies.
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Božič A, Šiber A. Mechanics of inactive swelling and bursting of porate pollen grains. Biophys J 2022; 121:782-792. [PMID: 35093340 PMCID: PMC8943692 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The structure of pollen grains, which is typically characterized by soft apertures in an otherwise stiff exine shell, guides their response to changes in the humidity of the environment. These changes can lead to desiccation of the grain and its infolding but also to excessive swelling of the grain and even its bursting. Here we use an elastic model to explore the mechanics of pollen grain swelling and the role of soft, circular apertures (pores) in this process. Small, circular apertures typically occur in airborne and allergenic pollen grains so that the bursting of such grains is important in the context of human health. We identify and quantify a mechanical weakness of the pores, which are prone to rapid inflation when the grain swells to a critical extent. The inflation occurs as a sudden transition and may induce bursting of the grain and release of its content. This process crucially depends on the size of the pores and their softness. Our results provide insight into the inactive part of the mechanical response of pollen grains to hydration when they land on a stigma as well as bursting of airborne pollen grains during changes in air humidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anže Božič
- Department of Theoretical Physics, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Agache I, Palmer E, Sanver D, Kirtland M, Shamji MH. Molecular allergology approach to allergic asthma. Mol Aspects Med 2021; 85:101027. [PMID: 34579961 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2021.101027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Allergic asthma is a frequently encountered and well described asthma phenotype. However, its precise mechanisms are less known. The tools for targeted selection of patients for an optimal response to intervention (prevention or treatment) are also lacking. Here we explore the potential of the molecular allergology approach to achieve a better understanding of allergic asthma mechanisms, a precise diagnosis and an optimal management of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioana Agache
- Faculty of Medicine, Transylvania University, Brasov, Romania.
| | - Elizabeth Palmer
- Imperial College, Faculty of Medicine, National Heart & Lung Institute, London, UK
| | - Didem Sanver
- Imperial College, Faculty of Medicine, National Heart & Lung Institute, London, UK; Necmettin Erbakan University, Engineering & Architecture Faculty, Department of Food Engineering, Konya, Turkey
| | - Max Kirtland
- Imperial College, Faculty of Medicine, National Heart & Lung Institute, London, UK
| | - Mohamed H Shamji
- Imperial College, Faculty of Medicine, National Heart & Lung Institute, London, UK
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8
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Chatelier J, Chan S, Tan JA, Stewart AG, Douglass JA. Managing Exacerbations in Thunderstorm Asthma: Current Insights. J Inflamm Res 2021; 14:4537-4550. [PMID: 34526800 PMCID: PMC8436255 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s324282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidemic thunderstorm asthma (ETSA) occurs following a thunderstorm due to the interaction of environmental and immunologic factors. Whilst first reported in the 1980s, the world's largest event in Melbourne, Australia, on November 21, 2016 has led to a wealth of clinical literature seeking to identify its mechanisms, susceptibility risk factors, and management approaches. Thunderstorm asthma (TA) typically presents during an aeroallergen season in individuals sensitized to perennial rye grass pollen (RGP) in Australia, or fungus in the United Kingdom, in combination with meteorological factors such as thunderstorms and lightning activity. It is now well recognized that large pollen grains, which usually lodge in the upper airway causing seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), are ruptured during these events, leading to sub-pollen particles respirable to the lower respiratory tract causing acute asthma. The identified risk factors of aeroallergen sensitization, specifically to RGP in Australians with a history of SAR, and individuals born in Australia of South-East Asian descent as a risk factor for TA has been key in selecting appropriate patients for preventative management. Moreover, severity-determining risk factors for ETSA-related asthma admission or mortality, including pre-existing asthma or prior hospitalization, poor inhaled corticosteroid adherence, and outdoor location at the time of the storm are important in identifying those who may require more aggressive treatment approaches. Basic treatments include optimizing asthma control and adherence to inhaled corticosteroid therapy, treatment of SAR, and education regarding TA to increase recognition of at-risk days. Precision treatment approaches may be more beneficial in select individuals, including the use of allergen immunotherapy and even biologic treatment to mitigate asthma severity. Finally, we discuss the importance of environmental health literacy in the context of concerns surrounding the increased frequency of ETSA due to climate change and its implications for the frequency and severity of future events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josh Chatelier
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Samantha Chan
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Immunology Division, The Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ju Ann Tan
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alastair G Stewart
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- ARC Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jo Anne Douglass
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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9
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Shamji MH, Boyle RJ. What does climate change mean for people with pollen allergy? Clin Exp Allergy 2021; 51:202-205. [PMID: 33617068 DOI: 10.1111/cea.13826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed H Shamji
- Department of National Heart and Lung Institute, Immunomodulation and Tolerance Group, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Imperial College London, London, UK.,Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, London, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Robert J Boyle
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Wright Fleming Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
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