Immunoblot Analysis of IgE-Binding Antigens in Paprika and Tomato Pollen

• Published in: International archives of allergy and immunology Vol. 122; no. 4; pp. 246 - 250
• Main Authors: van Toorenenbergen, A.W., Waanders, J., Gerth van Wijk, R., Vermeulen, A.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland Karger 01.08.2000; S. Karger AG
• Subjects: Adult; Allergens - immunology; Allergic diseases; Antigens - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Capsicum - immunology; Capsicum frutescens; Child; Female; Food Hypersensitivity - etiology; General aspects; Humans; Immunoblotting; Immunoglobulin E - blood; Immunoglobulin E - immunology; Immunopathology; Lycopersicon esculentum; Lycopersicon esculentum - immunology; Male; Medical sciences; Occupational Diseases - etiology; Original Paper; Plants, Medicinal; Pollen - immunology; Horticulture; Allergy, occupational; Human; Immunopathology; Allergy; Fruit; IgE; Tomato; Occupational environment; Paprika; Immunoblotting assay; Pollen; Greenhouse; Occupational medicine; Allergen
• ISSN: 1018-2438; 1423-0097
• DOI: 10.1159/000024405

Background: The high incidence of occupational allergy in horticulture has only recently been recognized. We determined IgE against pollen and fruit from paprika and tomato plants in sera from 3 greenhouse workers and in 3 sera from food-allergic patients. Methods: Proteins in extracts of paprika and tomato pollen were incubated with patients’ sera after covalent coupling of these proteins to agarose beads, or in immunoblots. Results: IgE against paprika pollen, but no IgE against tomato pollen, was found in serum from 2 greenhouse workers who worked with paprika plants only. IgE binding of these 2 sera to agarose-bound paprika pollen extract could be inhibited by paprika pollen but not by tomato pollen extract. A greenhouse worker, who cultivated tomato plants, had IgE against both tomato and paprika pollen. IgE binding of this serum to agarose-bound paprika pollen extract could be inhibited by both paprika pollen and tomato pollen extract. Three food-allergic patients also had IgE against tomato and paprika pollen. IgE from 2 food-allergic patients recognized IgE-binding structures in paprika or tomato pollen that were also present in fruit from the corresponding plant. In contrast, no substantial cross-reactivity was observed between paprika pollen and fruit towards IgE from 3 greenhouse workers. In 4 of 5 sera that were positive in the paprika pollen immunoblot major IgE binding to allergens of about 30 and 64 kD occurred. Conclusion: The presence of IgE against paprika or tomato pollen is not restricted to workers in horticulture; IgE against these pollen can also be present in food-allergic patients who have serum IgE against paprika and/or tomato fruit.