Kiwifruit defense protein, kiwellin (Act d 5) percutaneously sensitizes mouse models through the epidermal application of crude kiwifruit extract

Abstract

Background: Kiwifruit is a popular fruit consumed worldwide and is also used as a cosmetic ingredient. However, it is known to cause allergic reactions in humans. Recent studies have suggested an association between food allergy and food allergens entering the body via the skin. However, percutaneously sensitizing kiwifruit allergens have not been identified in human studies or in animal models.
 Objective: This study aimed to identify kiwifruit proteins that percutaneously sensitized mice through the epidermal application of crude extracts from green and gold kiwifruit on the dorsal skin, and serum IgE and IgG1 levels were used as sensitization markers.
 Design: BALB/c mice were back-shaved and their skin was exposed to crude extracts from green and gold kiwifruit that contained sodium dodecyl sulfate. Specific IgE and IgG1 antibodies generated and secreted in response to antigens were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or immunoblotting.
 Results: Skin exposure to kiwifruit extract induced an increase in the levels of kiwifruit-specific IgE and IgG1, which are helper T cell 2-related allergenic antibodies in mice. These antibodies reacted with 18, 23, and 24 kDa proteins found in both green and gold kiwifruits. Thus, three percutaneously sensitizing allergens were identified and purified. Their amino acid sequences partially matched with that of kiwellin (Act d 5).
 Discussion and conclusion: Kiwellin has been identified as a plant defense-related protein. Interestingly, many plant allergens are biodefense-related proteins belonging to the pathogenesis-related protein family. Kiwellin, which was discovered to be a transdermal sensitizing antigen, might also be categorized as a biodefense-related protein. This study is the first to identify kiwellin (Act d 5) as a percutaneously sensitizing kiwifruit allergen in a mouse model.

Establishment of a mouse allergy model for Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

“…It is good to establish an animal model for allergic diseases; however, it remains challenging to apply it to the natural human sensitisation, as the sensitisation through unnatural pathways may result in varying symptoms, for instance, the nasal and intradermal sensitisation for house dust mite in mouse models showed different results (Dijoux et al., 2023 ). However, it has been reported that some allergy symptoms can be induced through artificial ways, such as injecting peanut powder to create a mouse model for peanut allergy (Dolence, 2021 ), or using kiwifruit extract through skin contact to establish a model (Kinugasa et al., 2021 ). The mouse model constructed in this study may add additional knowledge in the areas of urticaria, pruritus and erythema induced by insect bites.…”

Co-Application with Tannic Acid Prevents Transdermal Sensitization to Ovalbumin in Mice

“…It has been reported that allergic reactions by percutaneous sensitization are caused by various foods. In our previous studies, we identified the major percutaneously sensitizing allergen candidates in soybean [ 3 , 4 ], cherry [ 5 ], and kiwi [ 6 ]. Ovalbumin (OVA) and lactoglobulin were also reported to be percutaneously sensitizing allergens in egg and milk, respectively [ 7 , 8 ].…”