Seasonal and intradiurnal variation of airborne pollen concentrations in Bodrum, SW Turkey

An aeropalynological study was performed in Bodrum, the famous tourism center in southwestern Turkey with a Hirst-type volumetric 7-day pollen and spore trap for 2 years (2007-2008). In Bodrum, 25,099 pollen grains as a mean value belonging to 41 taxa were recorded annually during the study period, and pollen grains from woody plant taxa had the largest atmospheric contribution of 86.99% and 24 taxa. However, 17 herbaceous plant taxa constituted 12.82% of the annual total pollen count, and 0.19% were unidentified. An average annual pollen index of 22.66% was recorded in March, despite differences from year to year. The highest pollen variability of 34 taxa was recorded in April and May. Predominant pollen types belonged to Cupressaceae/Taxaceae (42.73%), Quercus (15.95%), Pinus (9.78%), Olea europaea (9.04%), Poaceae (5.50%), Betula (1.82%), Pistacia (1.74%), Morus (1.72%), Urticaceae (1.46%), and Plantago (1.28%) and generated 91.03 of the annual total. In total, 32.59% of the mean annual total pollen index was recorded in the morning, and less pollen was recorded in the evening (18.71%). Maximum pollen concentration was recorded between 11:00 and 12:00 a.m.

Specificity mapping of patients IgE response towards the tree pollen major allergens Aln g I, Bet v I and Cor a I

The specificity pattern of IgE from non-treated tree pollen allergic patients (n = 38) were evaluated by solid phase absorption of serum samples followed by CRIE on alder, birch and hazel CIE precipitation profiles. The majority of the serum samples seemed to contain IgE antibodies with the following characteristics: specific towards Bet v I alone and common between Aln g I, Bet v I and/or Cor a I, 'II'. The IgE specificity profiles observed for 95% of the sera tested are compatible with birch pollen allergens being the only sensitizing allergens, indicating that the patients react to allergens from other tree pollens of the Fagales order due to IgE cross-reaction with the major allergens of birch and alder and/or hazel pollens.

The NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of the immunochemically partial identical major allergens of Alder (Alnus glutinosa) Aln g I, birch (Betula verrucosa) Bet v I, hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) Car b I and oak (Quercus alba) Que a I pollens

The tree pollen major allergens (Aln g I), Bet v I, Car b I and Que a I, were purified to near homogeneity. Rabbit antibodies raised towards the major allergen Bet v I react with the major allergens of alder, hazel, hornbeam and oak, although with distinct variation in affinity. Immunochemically the major allergens seem to resemble one another more within than between the botanically established families of the fagale order. The physico-chemical parameters (molecular weight, pI values, amino acid composition and NH2-terminal amino acid sequence) of the major allergens exhibit a higher degree of consistency than do the immunochemical parameters, indicating that nuances in the allergens' secondary and tertiary structures are likely to govern the immunochemical differences.

The immunological relationship of epitopes on major tree pollen allergens

The major allergens of birch (Bet v I), alder (Aln g I), hazel (Cor a I) and hornbeam (Car b I) were investigated by means of high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis combined with immunoblotting. Eleven sera derived from patients allergic to birch pollen as well as mouse monoclonal antibodies BIP 1 and BIP 4, raised against Bet v I, were used as probes. Human IgE antibodies detected 10 spots in birch (Mr 17 kDa, pI 4.9-5.9); four spots in alder (Mr 18.5 kDa, pI 4.7-5.3); four spots in hazel (Mr 17 kDa, pI 5.0-5.8); and 12 + 7 spots in hornbeam (Mr 16.5 kDa, pI 4.9-6.6 and Mr 18 kDa, pI 5.2-6.7), respectively, representing major allergens. Each patient tested reacted in a similar fashion with the spot cluster(s) of a certain allergen. BIP 1 detected the same spot clusters as patients' IgE. BIP 4 reacted with the 17-, 18.5- and 18-kDa spots of birch, alder and hornbeam, but did not react with the 17-kDa spots of hazel and the 16.5-kDa spots of hornbeam. In inhibition experiments with birch pollen extract as inhibitor, IgE binding to Bet v I, as well as to Aln g I, Cor a I and Car b I was abolished, thus suggesting that IgE binding to major tree pollen allergens is confined to shared epitopes. These findings indicate that it might be sufficient to use only Bet v I for diagnostic procedures as well as for immunotherapy in patients with tree pollen allergy.

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein reduces plasma coagulation in vitro

Oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was shown to occur in vivo and involved lipid peroxidation and apolipoprotein modification. We studied the effect of oxidized-LDL (Ox-LDL) on plasma coagulation by measuring prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) following the addition of Ox-LDL to normal plasma. Ox-LDL, but not native LDL, caused prolongation of PT and PTT by 30% in a dose- and time-dependent pattern. This effect was also shown to be present following lipoprotein delipidation, suggesting that it was the apolipoprotein fraction of Ox-LDL, but not its lipid fraction, that was responsible for the prolongation of PT and PTT. This was further substantiated since similar effect could be obtained by adding LDL treated with trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid to block the lysine groups, as occurs in oxidized LDL. Ox-LDL, unlike LDL, was found to reduce plasma ionized calcium by 33%. Moreover, adding calcium ions to Ox-LDL negated its effect on PT and PTT, suggesting that Ox-LDL apolipoprotein may influence coagulation by binding calcium ions.

Micropreparative-scale enrichment of some allergenic components of Parietaria pollen extract

A preparative-scale enrichment of the allergenic components of the pollen extract of Parietaria judaica, which grow all over the Mediterranean area, has been obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography, operating in the ion-exchange mode at pH 7 with a curvilinear ionic-strength gradient.

Purification and molecular weight studies on the components of a Parietaria pollen extract

The pollen extract of the allergenic plant Parietaria judaica, growing throughout the Mediterranean region, has been purified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) operating in size-exclusion followed by ion exchange. Molecular weight determination of the components and isoelectrofocusing studies on the enriched material have been performed.

Molecular weight determination of allergen extracts and isolation of allergenic molecules by high-performance liquid chromatography

The usefulness of size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the molecular weight determination of allergen extracts as a method of process control was investigated by measuring seven different batches of timothy pollen extracts. Preparative HPLC was used for the isolation of the major allergen Cat 1, from a crude cat hair and skin scraping (CHSS) extract. The chromatograms of the seven batches of the timothy pollen extracts looked very similar, suggesting the same molecular weight distribution in each extract. The major allergen, Cat 1, could be isolated from the crude CHSS extract by preparative HPLC in acceptable purity, determined by crossed radioimmunoelectrophoresis.

High-performance liquid chromatographic molecular weight determination of allergen extracts. Examination of the influence of the column material on allergenic activity and allergen patterns

To investigate whether the column material employed in size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) influences the allergenic activity and antigen/allergen patterns of allergen extracts, the molecular weights of a mite and a birch pollen allergen extract were determined using a Bio-Sil TSK 250 column with a guard column. The allergenic activities were measured by RAST inhibition and the antigen/allergen patterns were determined by crossed (radio)immunoelectrophoresis. The original extracts and the corresponding eluates after HPLC runs showed the same allergenic activity and the same number of antigen/allergen precipitation lines. Only slight differences in the peak heights of some precipitates were observed.

Immunochemical characterization of reference alder (Alnus glutinosa) and hazel (Corylus avellana) pollen extracts and the partial immunochemical identity between the major allergens of alder, birch and hazel pollens

Dialysed extracts of alder (Alnus glutinosa) and hazel (Corylus avellana) pollens were characterized by immunochemical methods. The alder pollen extract contained at least 33 distinct antigens of which one, antigen 5, was classified as a major allergen, three, antigens 4, 10, and 17, were classified as intermediate allergens and two, antigens 19 and 23, were classified as minor allergens. The molecular weight and pI of the major allergen were determined to be 19,000 D and 5.2, respectively. The hazel pollen extract contained at least 40 distinct antigens, two of which were classified as major allergens, antigens 8 and 13, three as intermediate allergens, antigens 12, 17, and 26, and seven as minor allergens, antigens 6, 11, 16, 18, 29, 39, and 40. The molecular weights and pI's of the major allergens of hazel pollen were determined to be: antigen 8; Mw = 12,000 D, pI = 5.1 and less than 3.5, antigen 13; Mw = 26,000 D, pI = 5.1. Further, crossed line immunoelectrophoresis and tandem crossed immunoelectrophoresis of alder, birch and hazel strongly indicate that there exists an immunochemical partial identity between the major allergens (antigens 5 (alder), 23 (birch), and 13 (hazel)) from these tree pollens.

Isolation of the major IgE-binding protein from Parietaria judaica pollen using monoclonal antibodies

Allergen molecules from Parietaria judaica pollen, a widely distributed allergy inducer in Southern and Western Europe, have been studied using specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). MAbs against IgE-binding components were selected in a 4-step radioimmunoassay. Three different MAbs (AC/1.1, AC/7.1 and AC/15.1) were obtained which recognized epitope(s) located on a polypeptide of 10 Kd (Pj10). This polypeptide displayed the highest IgE-binding ability under either native or SDS-denatured conditions, as determined by immunoadsorption and immunodetection after SDS-PAGE, respectively. The Pj10-containing allergen, purified on an AC/1.1 MAb-Sepharose column, was able to inhibit most of the binding of specific IgE to the pollen extract coupled to paper discs in an inhibition radioallergosorbent test (RAST). The affinity-purified allergen exhibited the same immunoelectrophoretic behaviour as the native allergen.