Cry j 2, a major allergen of Japanese cedar pollen, shows polymethylgalacturonase activity

Background: Japanese cedar pollinosis is a severe allergic disease in Japan. The most effective means of decreasing allergic inflammation reactions is still avoidance of the aeroallergen. Recently, a novel air purification system using positively and negatively charged cluster ions was developed to create comfortable living environments. We aimed to assess the ability of existing technology to lower allergenicity of Japanese cedar pollen. Methods: A Japanese cedar pollen extract was nebulized from the top of a cylindrical container with 2 or 4 ion-generating devices. The extract in a mist was passed through the space filled with or without plasma cluster ions for 90 s, and the ion-treated or nontreated extract was then collected in a Petri dish at the bottom of the container. Results: The ion-exposed extract was significantly diminished in its reactivities to anti-Cry j 1 or anti-Cry j 2 antiserum and to human allergic sera IgE on ELISA. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that ion exposure induced protein degradation in the pollen extract. Similarly, the ion treatment impaired about 80% of the binding to pooled sera IgE from patients allergic to Japanese cedar pollen on ELISA inhibition. Furthermore, intracutaneous and conjunctival reaction tests showed a remarkable diminution in the allergenicity of the ion-irradiated extract. Conclusion: Ion irradiation resulted in a remarkable decrease in in vitro and in vivo allergenicities of atomized Japanese cedar pollen extracts.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decrease in the Allergenicity of Japanese Cedar Pollen Allergen by Treatment with Positive and Negative Cluster Ions

Kawamoto

Oshita

Fukuoka

et al. 2006

“…Studies with a panel of 23 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) raised against Cry j 1 and Cry j 2 [40, 41]led to the fine analysis of B cell epitopes displayed by the two allergens, confirming the absence of cross-reactive determinants on the two molecules. From a functional point of view, Cry j 2 has been classified as a polymethylgalacturonase, although existence of this activity has not been conclusively proven [42]. Therefore, it is conceivable that both Cry j 1 and Cry j 2 may act together to facilitate pollen tube growth during pollination with their enzymatic properties.…”

Section: Identification Characterisation and Purification Of Cupressmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cupressaceae Pollinosis: Identification, Purification and Cloning of Relevant Allergens

Felice

Barletta

Tinghino

et al. 2001

Allergy to Cupressaceae pollen is a worldwide pollinosis caused by several species. Pollen extracts prepared from allergenic species belonging to this family are characterised by low protein and high carbohydrate content. The allergenic components represented in the pollen extracts from different species of the Cupressaceae family show high levels of cross-reactivity when probed with human IgE from allergic subjects and share a number of common epitopes also identified by polyclonal rabbit antisera and monoclonal antibodies. A close relationship has also been described with the Taxodiaceae and Podocarpaceae families. Although both proteic and carbohydrate epitopes appear to be involved in IgE recognition and allergenic cross-reactivity, a large portion of the IgE reactivity of Cupressaceae-allergic patients seems to be associated with sugar moieties present on the relevant allergenic molecules. From this point of view, Cupressaceae/Taxodiaceae allergens constitute a particularly useful model to study IgE cross-reactivity, as they have been shown to display different levels of homology. Moreover, the availability of the purified allergens, together with their recombinant counterparts, may shed light on the actual role played by carbohydrate in allergic sensitisation, IgE recognition and allergenic cross-reactivity.

“…In the case of allergy to pollens of trees belonging to the order Coniferales, it seems that the two major allergens of cedar, Cry j 1 and Cry j 2, [96, 97,99,100,101] which fulfill the function of a pectate-lyase and polymethylgalacturonase [142, 143], respectively, can serve as marker allergens for sensitization to the Cupressaceae/Taxodiaceae families. However, only a few immunological cross-reactivity studies have been performed to support this hypothesis.…”

Section: Marker Allergens Indicating Sensitization To Scrophularialesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transition from a Botanical to a Molecular Classification in Tree Pollen Allergy: Implications for Diagnosis and Therapy

Mothes¹,

Horak

Valenta³

2004

Tree pollens are among the most important allergen sources. Allergic cross-reactivity to pollens of trees from various plant orders has so far been classified according to botanical relationships. In this context, cross-reactivities to pollens of trees of the Fagales order (birch, alder, hazel, hornbeam, oak, chestnut), fruits and vegetables, between pollens of the Scrophulariales (olive, ash, plantain, privet, lilac) and pollens of the Coniferales (cedar, cypress, pine) are well established. The application of molecular biology methods for allergen characterization has revealed the molecular nature of many important tree pollen allergens. We review the spectrum of tree pollen allergens and propose a classification of tree pollen and related allergies based on major allergen molecules instead of botanical relationships among the allergenic sources. This molecular classification suggests the major birch pollen allergen, Bet v 1 as a marker for Fagales pollen and related plant food allergies, the major olive pollen allergen, Ole e 1, as a possible marker for Scrophulariales pollen allergy and the cedar allergens, Cry j 1 and Cry j 2, as potential markers for allergy to Coniferales pollens. We exemplify for Fagales pollen allergy and Bet v 1 that major marker allergens are diagnostic tools to determine the disease-eliciting allergen source. Information obtained by diagnostic testing with marker allergens will be important for the appropriate selection of patients for allergen-specific forms of therapy.