The newest addition to the ImmunoCAP line of component allergy tests also includes assays for cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCD) and
profilins, which are both allergens contained in various plants, pollens, and foods.
Sometimes it is very difficult to discern between NRL allergy and an asymptomatic state of awareness, on account of the presence of carbohydrate cross-reacting determinants or
profilin. In fact, many cases of sensitization to latex
profilin occurs via
profilins of pollen or food origin [2-5].
Ephedra monosperma had mostly degradome proteins (
profilins, desiccation-related protein, the GTP-binding protein RAN-1, and ceramidase) and had only two secretome proteins that we could detect in this initial comparative study--serine carboxypeptidase and glucan endo-1,3-[beta]-glucosidase.
Varasteh, "Chenopodium album pollen
profilin (Che a 2): homology modeling and evaluation of cross-reactivity with allergenic
profilins based on predicted potential IgE epitopes and IgE reactivity analysis," Molecular Biology Reports, vol.
Subjects sensitised only to cross-reacting plant
profilins (Hev b 9) have a much reduced risk of clinical sensitivity.
For example, increased levels of IgG antibodies to vegetables and beans (including coffee beans) are sometimes associated with Lipid transfer proteins (LTP), lectins (polysaccharides), and/or
profilins (actin binding proteins).
The plant proteins involved in OAS and PFS have been shown to belong to plant protein families, including those of
profilins, pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs), and lipid transfer proteins.
Parietaria
profilin shows only limited cross-reactivity with birch and grass
profilins.
Cross-reactivities caused by defense-related proteins like plant
profilins are responsible for the pollen-fruit syndrome and similarly the latex-fruit syndrome (Ganglberger, et al., 2001, Kurup, Kelly, Elms, Kelly, & Fink, 1994; Perkin, 2000; Yagami, 2002), and for the cross-reactivities between latex and pollen (Fuchs et al., 1997; Merret, Merret, & Kekwick, 1999).
SMN has also been shown to interact with other proteins (
profilins) that regulate actin dynamics, and therefore maintain cyto skeletal integrity.
Profilins, PR-10 proteins, lipid transfer proteins (LTPs), and storage proteins are most relevant to plant-food allergies.
[3] Such cross-reactivity may occur in more than 50% of latex-allergic individuals, and is due to specific cross-reacting allergens such as
profilins. [4] Notably, about 50% of medical devices contain latex, so care has to be taken to identify them and avoid contact by latex-sensitised and allergic individuals.
