Type I allergy is a major health problem in industrialized countries where up to 15% of the population suffer from allergic symptoms (rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthma). Previously, we identified a cDNA clone that encoded a birch pollen allergen as profilin. Profilins constitute a ubiquitous family of proteins that control actin polymerization in eukaryotic cells; in particular, profilin participates in the acrosomal reaction of animal sperm cells. Although profilins had been unknown in plants so far, our finding led to the assumption that profilins might have similar functions in pollens during plant fertilization and therefore represent allergenic components in almost all pollens. We show that profilins are prominent allergens that can be isolated from tree pollens (Betula verrucosa, birch), from pollens of grasses (Phleum pratense, timothy grass), and weeds (Artemisia vulgaris, mugwort). About 20% of all pollen allergic patients tested (n = 65) displayed immunoglobulin E (IgE) reactivity to recombinant birch profilin that was expressed in pKK223-3. An IgE inhibition experiment performed with recombinant birch profilin and purified natural profilins from timothy grass and mugwort indicates common IgE epitopes. Moreover, all pollen profilins purified from these far distantly related plant species, and likewise the purified recombinant birch profilin, are able to elicit dose-dependent histamine release via high affinity Fc epsilon receptor of blood basophils from profilin allergic patients. The presence of profilin and possibly related proteins as crossreacting allergenic components in various plants therefore provides an explanation as to why certain allergic patients display type I allergic reactions with pollens and even food from distantly related plants. A functional pan-allergen, like profilin, available as purified recombinant protein, may be a useful diagnostic and probably therapeutic reagent.
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1 February 1992
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February 01 1992
Profilins constitute a novel family of functional plant pan-allergens.
R Valenta,
R Valenta
Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Vienna, Austria.
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M Duchene,
M Duchene
Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Vienna, Austria.
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C Ebner,
C Ebner
Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Vienna, Austria.
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P Valent,
P Valent
Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Vienna, Austria.
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C Sillaber,
C Sillaber
Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Vienna, Austria.
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P Deviller,
P Deviller
Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Vienna, Austria.
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F Ferreira,
F Ferreira
Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Vienna, Austria.
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M Tejkl,
M Tejkl
Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Vienna, Austria.
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H Edelmann,
H Edelmann
Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Vienna, Austria.
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D Kraft
D Kraft
Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Vienna, Austria.
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R Valenta
Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Vienna, Austria.
M Duchene
Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Vienna, Austria.
C Ebner
Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Vienna, Austria.
P Valent
Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Vienna, Austria.
C Sillaber
Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Vienna, Austria.
P Deviller
Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Vienna, Austria.
F Ferreira
Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Vienna, Austria.
M Tejkl
Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Vienna, Austria.
H Edelmann
Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Vienna, Austria.
D Kraft
Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Vienna, Austria.
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1992) 175 (2): 377–385.
Citation
R Valenta, M Duchene, C Ebner, P Valent, C Sillaber, P Deviller, F Ferreira, M Tejkl, H Edelmann, D Kraft; Profilins constitute a novel family of functional plant pan-allergens.. J Exp Med 1 February 1992; 175 (2): 377–385. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.175.2.377
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