Mugwort-Sensitized Individuals from North Europe, South Europe and North America Show Different IgE Reactivity Patterns

Abstract

Background: Sensitization to weed pollen allergens at the molecular level is not fully understood. We studied IgE reactivity to the major mugwort allergen Art v 1 in relation to allergens from other weed pollen and cross-reactive components in mugwort-sensitized subjects. Methods: Art v 1 and Amb a 1 were affinity purified and coupled to experimental ImmunoCAP® tests. Samples from North Europe (n = 50), South Europe (n = 19) and North America (n = 41) were analyzed for IgE against mugwort pollen, weed allergen components, pan-allergens and cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCDs). Results: The prevalence of IgE reactivity (>0.35 kU_A/l) to Art v 1 was significantly higher in samples from North Europe than in those from North America. IgE to Amb a 1 was more common in North America than in North and South Europe, while IgE to Par j 2 was common in South Europe, less common in North America, and absent in North Europe. IgE to Art v 3 in mugwort-allergic patients was more common in North Europe than in South Europe and North America, while IgE to Sal k 1 was similar between the areas. Subjects with an Art v 1/mugwort-specific IgE ratio <0.5 had more often IgE to Amb a 1, profilin, polcalcin and CCDs than subjects with a ratio >0.5. Conclusions: Mugwort-sensitized subjects have different IgE reactivity profiles to weed allergens, reflecting their exposure to various pollens. Subjects with a low ratio between the IgE levels to Art v 1 and mugwort have a diverse IgE reactivity profile, indicating a role for cross-reactive allergens in their mugwort sensitization.

The specific IgE reactivity pattern of weed pollen-induced allergic rhinitis patients

“…Art v 1 is a major allergen with a prevalence of sIgE in 79-95% of mugwortallergic patients in previous studies [9,10]. The present study showed that 82% of Art v-positive patients were positive to Art v 1, which is in agreement with the 84% of the recently reported Art v 1 prevalence in the mugwort-sensitized subjects from northern Europe [11]. No Art v1-positive but Art v-negative patients were found in this study.…”

“…Specific IgE to profilin (rCor a 2) is found in 40-45% of hazelnutallergic patients [20]. Also, 52.7% of patients with IgE to crude Parietaria pollen extract had sIgE to profilin (Phl p 12) [21] and 34% of peach-allergic patients had a positive IgE response to birch profilin (rBet v 2) [11]. A recent multicenter study showed that 32% of mugwort sensitization subjects from northern Europe, 16% from southern Europe, and 32% from North America were sensitized to profilin Bet v 2.…”

Pollinose au chêne, au platane, au plantain, à l’armoise. Mythe ou réalité ?

“…Des tests cutanés et des tests de provocation nasale ont démontré son activité biologique in vivo chez des patients allergiques à l'armoise [56]. Les prévalences de sensibilisation à Art v 1 peuvent être variables selon l'origine géographique des patients ; en Europe, elles sont élevées, se situant entre 80 et 90 % [57][58][59][60]. Elles ont également été étudiées récemment en Amérique du Nord [60,61] et en Chine [62] ; Art v 2 a un poids moléculaire de 35 kDa ; Art v 3 est une LTP d'un poids moléculaire de 13 kDa.…”

“…Les prévalences de sensibilisation à Art v 1 peuvent être variables selon l'origine géographique des patients ; en Europe, elles sont élevées, se situant entre 80 et 90 % [57][58][59][60]. Elles ont également été étudiées récemment en Amérique du Nord [60,61] et en Chine [62] ; Art v 2 a un poids moléculaire de 35 kDa ; Art v 3 est une LTP d'un poids moléculaire de 13 kDa. C'est un allergène qui peut être considéré comme majeur car il peut être reconnu par plus de 80 % des sujets allergiques à l'armoise [54].…”

Predictive Surrogate Markers of Allergy: A By-Product of Recombinant Allergens?

“…In a large number of cases, the positive skin test to plantain corresponds to cross-reactivity with grass group 5 allergens [9] , a situation in which demonstration of specific anti-Pla l 1 IgE could be particularly useful [10] . Mugwort pollen allergy might also be overdiagnosed since positive test results may evolve due to cross-reactivity to other weeds [11] .…”