Cenk Suphioglu

Mechanism of grass-pollen-induced asthma

Many asthmatics are sensitive to rye-grass pollen, but pollen grains are too large to penetrate the lower airways. Our aim was to investigate the mechanism by which rye-grass pollen causes asthma. A major allergen of rye-grass pollen, Lol pIX, is located in intracellular starch granules within pollen grains. In-vitro tests showed that pollen grains are ruptured in rainwater by osmotic shock, each grain releasing about 700 starch granules into the environment. These granules are small enough to enter the airways (less than 3 microns in diameter). The starch granules were present in atmospheric samples taken during the pollen season, and showed a 50-fold increase in atmospheric concentration on days following rainfall. Isolated granules elicited IgE-mediated responses in asthmatic patients, and 4 patients with rainfall-associated asthma who underwent an inhalation challenge test had striking bronchial constriction after exposure to starch granules. Starch granules released from rye-grass pollen seem to be capable of causing asthma.

Major grass pollen allergen Lol p 1 binds to diesel exhaust particles: implications for asthma and air pollution

Background Grass pollen allergens are known to be present in the atmosphere in a range of particle sizes from whole pollen grains (approx. 20 to 55 μim in diameter) to smaller size fractions < 2.5 μ (fine particles, PM2.5). These latter particles are within the respirable range and include allergen‐containing starch granules released from within the grains into the atmosphere when grass pollen ruptures in rainfall and are associated with epidemics of thunderstorm asthma during the grass pollen season. The question arises whether grass pollen allergens can interact with other sources of fine particles, particularly those present during episodes of air pollution.

Concentrations of the major birch tree allergen Bet v 1 in pollen and respirable fine particles in the atmosphere

BACKGROUND Birch tree pollen allergens are an important cause of early spring hay fever and allergic asthma. Pollen counts provide a guide for individuals with birch pollen allergy. However, birch pollen, because of its size, has a low probability of entering the lower airways to trigger asthma. Yet birch pollen allergens are known to be associated with respirable particles present in the atmosphere. OBJECTIVE We sought to determine the concentration of major allergen Bet v 1 in birch pollen and respirable particles in the atmosphere during the birch pollen season. METHODS We used a two-site monoclonal antibody-based assay (ELISA) to quantitate Bet v 1 in pollen extracts and high-volume air sampler filters collecting particles larger and smaller than 7.2 microm. RESULTS Bet v 1 (0.006 ng) is detectable per birch pollen grain, of which 0.004 ng is present in aqueous extracts (13.9% of soluble proteins). Atmospheric Bet v 1 concentrations are correlated with birch pollen counts. Heavy rainfall tended to wash out pollen and particles, indicated by a mean daily Bet v 1 concentration of 0.12 ng/m3 (20 pollen equivalents), but light rainfall produced a dramatic increase in allergen-loaded respirable particles with Bet v 1 concentrations of 1.2 ng/m3 (200 pollen equivalents). CONCLUSION These results highlight the different environmental risk factors for hay fever and allergic asthma in patients sensitized to Bet v 1. Light rainfall causes an increase in respirable particles; hence, this is an important risk factor for asthma.

Immunological analysis of allergenic cross‐reactivity between peanut and tree nuts

Background Peanut and tree nut allergy is characterized by a high frequency of life‐threatening anaphylactic reactions and typically lifelong persistence. Peanut allergy is more common than tree nut allergy, but many subjects develop hypersensitivity to both peanuts and tree nuts. Whether this is due to the presence of cross‐reactive allergens remains unknown.

Concentrations of major grass group 5 allergens in pollen grains and atmospheric particles: implications for hay fever and allergic asthma sufferers sensitized to grass pollen allergens

Grass pollen allergens are the most important cause of hay fever and allergic asthma during summer in cool temperate climates. Pollen counts provide a guide to hay fever sufferers. However, grass pollen, because of its size, has a low probability of entering the lower airways to trigger asthma. Yet, grass pollen allergens are known to be associated with atmospheric respirable particles.

Environmental and molecular biology of pollen allergens

The release of pollen into the air is a normal part of the sexual cycle in many wind-pollinated plants. Unfortunately, however, certain pollen grains contain specific proteins or glycoproteins that can result in the familiar debilitating symptoms of hayfever and asthma in humans. This, together with the dramatic increase in the incidence of allergic disease in recent years, has led to increasing public concern about allergenic pollen. It is important to examine the distribution of pollen in the air, the particular molecular features of the allergens, and, perhaps most intriguingly, what role these highly interactive molecules play in pollen growth and development.

Thunderstorm Asthma Due to Grass Pollen

It is widely known and accepted that grass pollen is a major outdoor cause of hay fever. Moreover, grass pollen is also responsible for triggering allergic asthma, gaining impetus as a result of the 1987/1989 Melbourne and 1994 London thunderstorm–associated asthma epidemics. However, grass pollen is too large to gain access into the lower airways to trigger the asthmatic response and micronic particles <5 μm are required to trigger the response. We have successfully shown that ryegrass pollen ruptures upon contact with water, releasing about 700 starch granules which not only contain the major allergen Lol p 5, but have been shown to trigger both in vitro and in vivo IgE–mediated responses. Furthermore, starch granules have been isolated from the Melbourne atmosphere with 50–fold increase following rainfall. Free grass pollen allergen molecules have been recently shown to interact with other particles including diesel exhaust carbon particles, providing a further transport mechanism for allergens to gain access into lower airways. In this review, implication and evidence for grass pollen as a trigger of thunderstorm–associated asthma is presented. Such information is critical and mandatory for patient education and training in their allergen avoidance programs. More importantly, patients with serum IgE to group 5 allergens are at high risk of allergic asthma, especially those not protected by medication. Therefore, a system to determine the total atmospheric allergen load and devising of an effective asthma risk forecast is urgently needed and is subject to current investigation.

Molecular cloning and immunological characterisation of Cyn d 7, a novel calcium-binding allergen from Bermuda grass pollen.

A cDNA coding for a newly identified Bermuda grass pollen allergen, Cyn d 7, with significant sequence similarity to Ca2+‐binding proteins, was isolated from a cDNA expression library using serum IgE from an allergic individual. The deduced amino acid sequence of Cyn d 7 contained two typical Ca2+‐binding sites (EF hand domains). Depletion of Ca2+ with EGTA led to a loss of IgE‐binding capacity of rCyn d 7. A synthetic peptide based on domain II showed high IgE reactivity. Cyn d 7 therefore represents a grass pollen allergen that belongs to a novel class of Ca2+‐binding proteins.

Hypoallergenic Variants of the Major Latex Allergen Hev b 6.01 Retaining Human T Lymphocyte Reactivity

Hev b 6.01 is a major allergen of natural rubber latex with sensitization of 70–86% of latex glove-allergic subjects. Recently, we mapped the immunodominant T cell sites of Hev b 6.01 to the highly IgE-reactive hevein (Hev b 6.02) domain. Hev b 6.01 contains 14 cysteine residues with multiple disulphide bridges stabilizing tertiary conformation. With the goal of a standardized specific immunotherapy we developed hypoallergenic Hev b 6.01 mutants by site-directed mutagenesis of selected cysteine residues (3, 12, 17, and 41) within the Hev b 6.02 domain. Peptides corresponding to the Hev b 6.02 domain of two of the mutants were also synthesized. These mutants and peptide variants showed markedly decreased or ablated latex-allergic patient serum IgE binding by immunoblotting and ELISA. Basophil activation testing confirmed markedly decreased activation with successive cysteine substitutions of the mutants and complete abrogation with the Hev b 6.02 (Cys 3, 12, 17, 41 Ala) peptide. Retention of T cell reactivity is crucial for effective specific immunotherapy and all mutants and peptide variants maintained their latex-specific T cell reactivity. The ablated allergenicity but retained T cell reactivity of the Hev b 6.02 (Cys 3, 12, 17, 41 Ala) peptide suggests this peptide is a suitable candidate for inclusion in a latex immunotherapy preparation.

A Human Monoclonal IgE Antibody Defines a Highly Allergenic Fragment of the Major Timothy Grass Pollen Allergen, Phl p 5: Molecular, Immunological, and Structural Characterization of the Epitope-Containing Domain

Almost 90% of grass pollen-allergic patients are sensitized against group 5 grass pollen allergens. We isolated a monoclonal human IgE Fab out of a combinatorial library prepared from lymphocytes of a grass pollen-allergic patient and studied its interaction with group 5 allergens. The IgE Fab cross-reacted with group 5A isoallergens from several grass and corn species. By allergen gene fragmentation we mapped the binding site of the IgE Fab to a 11.2-kDa N-terminal fragment of the major timothy grass pollen allergen Phl p 5A. The IgE Fab-defined Phl p 5A fragment was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. Circular dichroism analysis revealed that the rPhl p 5A domain, as well as complete rPhl p 5A, assumed a folded conformation consisting predominantly of an α helical secondary structure, and exhibited a remarkable refolding capacity. It reacted with serum IgE from 76% of grass pollen-allergic patients and revealed an extremely high allergenic activity in basophil histamine release as well as skin test experiments. Thus, the rPhl p 5A domain represents an important allergen domain containing several IgE epitopes in a configuration optimal for efficient effector cell activation. We suggest the rPhl p 5A fragment and the corresponding IgE Fab as paradigmatic tools to explore the structural requirements for highly efficient effector cell activation and, perhaps later, for the development of generally applicable allergen-specific therapy strategies.