Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Takeshi Yagami
Division of Medical Devices, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kamiyoga, Setagaya-Ku, Tokyo, Japan
Allergies to Cross-Reactive Plant Proteins Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2002;128:271–279 273
reactivity between latex and vegetable foods [6], belong to because some kinds of chemicals and air pollutants stimu-
the PR-3 family. They commonly contain a hevein-relat- late the defense responses. In fact, one report suggests the
ed region in their N-termini [50, 51]. Hevein is an impor- induction of a cross-reactive allergen (Bet v 1) in birch
tant latex allergen (Hev b 6.02) and provides several pollen by ozone and nitrogen dioxide [75, 76]. Another
cross-reactive epitopes [52, 53]. On the other hand, pro- study revealed that the amounts of IgE-reactive antigens
teins in the PR-4 family are homologous to the C-terminal were increased up to 10 times by treating Brassica rapa
region (Hev b 6.03) of prohevein (Hev b 6.01) [54, 55]. with salicylic acid or ethephon, which are representative
Therefore, proteins classified into the PR-4 families as chemicals that stimulate the defense responses [77]. This
well as into the PR-3 family would participate in latex- finding is especially notable because such defense-re-
fruit syndrome [6, 56]. Nonspecific lipid transfer proteins sponse activating chemicals are being intensively investi-
(LTPs) occupy the PR-14 families [49]. An LTP from nat- gated as a new type of agrochemical with less toxicity to
ural rubber latex was officially registered as latex allergen humans. The application of such substances might aug-
Hev b 12. Some vegetable food allergies without concur- ment the amount of allergen in a plant. Extensive studies
rent pollinosis are due to the cross-reactivity of LTPs in are urgently required to establish whether various chemi-
causative foods [57, 58]. cals and environmental pollutants have something to do
Proteins belonging to the PR-10 family are a key to with the recent prevalence of immediate-type allergies to
understanding OAS concomitant with pollinosis (pollen- vegetable foods and pollen.
food allergy syndrome). A major cross-reactive allergen Given the functions of defense-related proteins, it is
(Bet v 1) in birch-pollen is induced by stresses and is clas- clear that a plant producing a large amount of such pro-
sified as a member of this family [59–63]. Pollen from teins would be resistant to stresses and therefore agricul-
other trees such as elder, oak and chestnut also contains turally advantageous [41, 47]. One aim of conventional
allergens with sequences that are homologous to those of plant breeding is actually to develop a new variety highly
PR-10 proteins [12, 33]. Furthermore, vegetable foods resistant to environmental stresses. However, a variety
that often irritate birch-pollen-allergic patients produce that produces a large amount of allergens might inadver-
and accumulate defensive proteins that may also be mem- tently be selected through such improvements. The vari-
bers of this family [64, 65]. By considering the homology ety dependencies of IgE-reactive proteins have already
among the antigens in pollen and vegetable foods, we can been reported for apple, paprika, rice and other food
easily understand why pollen-allergic people, especially crops [65, 78–80]. Unfortunately, no exhaustive research
Bet v 1-sensitized patients, often cross-react to various has yet been done on the possible increase in allergens
taxonomically unrelated vegetable foods and pollen [66, accompanying conventional plant breeding.
67]. Additionally, many researchers are trying to develop a
stress-resistant variety by constantly expressing some
kind of defense-related proteins using biotechnology [37,
Induction of Novel Plant Allergens 81, 82]. Again, one can readily imagine the increased
allergenicity of the genetically modified plant [33]. These
Important cross-reactive allergens that are responsible are remarkable examples where potentially allergenic pro-
for latex-fruit syndrome or pollen-food allergy syndrome teins were intentionally expressed in a plant [41, 47, 83,
are related to the defense responses of higher plants [33]. 84]. It is important that newly developed plants should be
Some of the defense-related proteins are accumulated in carefully evaluated for their safety. The allergenicity of a
seeds or fruit, and others are newly induced under stress- deliberately expressed protein must be evaluated from
ful conditions [34]. Proteins in a storage organ usually various points of view [85, 86]. As will be discussed in the
change quantitatively and qualitatively according to the next section, people cannot fully determine the allergenic-
maturity of the organ. On the other hand, the defense ity of a protein based solely on its stability to digestive
responses are triggered by various factors such as chemi- enzymes [87]. An international consensus for the evalua-
cals, heavy metals, pathogens, air pollutants, ultraviolet tion of the allergenicity of genetically modified plants
rays and severe growing conditions. It is reasonable to must be established [88].
speculate, then, that antigens in a plant tissue are change-
able quantitatively and quantitatively (fig. 1) [68–74]. If
this is the case, environmental pollution could be partly
blamed for the increase in allergic disorders to plants
Allergies to Cross-Reactive Plant Proteins Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2002;128:271–279 275
Fig. 3. Diverse allergenicity of food anti-
gens. For efficient peroral sensitization, sta-
bility to digestive enzymes and a molecular
weight larger than LTPs would be required.
Profilin and the hevein-related regions of
class I endochitinases are most likely incom-
plete food allergens (nonsensitizing elic-
itors). They are expected to cause symptoms
from OAS to anaphylaxis in already sensi-
tized patients, depending on their stability to
heat and digestive enzymes. Drawings show
the representative features of each group.
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Allergies to Cross-Reactive Plant Proteins Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2002;128:271–279 279
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