Prunus persica 9, a new occupational allergen from peach tree pollen involved in rhinitis and asthma

• Published in: Occupational and environmental medicine (London, England) Vol. 78; no. 2; pp. 142 - 144
• Main Authors: Victorio-Puche, Laura, Pérez-Sánchez, Natalia, Somoza, Maria Luisa, Martin-Pedraza, Laura, Fernandez-Caldas, Enrique, Abel Fernandez, Eva, Moran, Mirian, Subiza, Jose Luis, Lopez-Sanchez, Jose Damian, Villalba, Mayte, Blanca, Miguel, Cornejo-García, José Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.02.2021; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Agricultural Workers' Diseases - immunology; Allergens; Allergies; allergy; Asthma; Asthma, Occupational - immunology; Bronchial Provocation Tests; Cultivars; Female; Flowering; Fruit trees; Gel electrophoresis; Histamine; Humans; Immunoblotting; Immunoglobulin E; Male; Middle Aged; Molecular weight; occupational asthma; Occupational exposure; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Occupational health; occupational health practice; Orchards; Pollen; Pollen - immunology; Practice; Proteins; Prunus persica; Prunus persica - immunology; respiratory; Rhinitis; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal - immunology; Skin Tests; Sodium lauryl sulfate; Spain; Spain; allergy; occupational asthma; respiratory; occupational health practice
• ISSN: 1351-0711; 1470-7926
• DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2020-106641

ObjectivesSeveral studies have described peach tree (PT) as an occupational allergen. The aim of this work was to assess the effect of Prunus persica 9 (Pru p 9), a recently identified allergen from PT pollen, in exposed workers.MethodsThe study included people who reported respiratory symptoms after handling PT in orchards during the flowering period (Blanca village, Murcia region, south-east Spain). After completing a detailed questionnaire, participants underwent skin prick test (SPT) and nasal provocation test (NPT). The IgE response was analysed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting assays.ResultsA total of 21 cases were included (mean age 45 years; 57% women). Most were polysensitised to common pollens, although one person was sensitised only to PT pollen. All cases had a positive SPT to this pollen, and 43% also to Pru p 9. All participants reported having rhinitis, and six participants reported having also asthma. Immunoblotting showed a heterogeneous IgE pattern for several proteins, with Pru p 9 recognised in nine cases. Most participants sensitised to PT pollen and Pru p 9 had positive NPTs, while those who were not sensitised to Pru p 9 tested negative.ConclusionsWe demonstrate for the first time that Pru p 9, an allergen from PT pollen, can induce respiratory symptoms following occupational exposure. This must be considered a relevant allergen when people working with PT cultivars develop respiratory symptoms.