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Breastfeeding Medicine : the Official... Nov 2022There is little information regarding the allergen content of milk feeds in the preterm population. Previous studies have not performed a broad analysis of the...
There is little information regarding the allergen content of milk feeds in the preterm population. Previous studies have not performed a broad analysis of the allergenic peptide content and protease activity of milk feeds in this population. To evaluate feasibility, we initially performed mass spectrometry on 4 human milk (HM) samples (2 term and 2 preterm) from the Mommy's Milk Human Milk Biorepository (HMB) and analyzed the results against the University of Nebraska FASTA database and UniProt for a total of 2,211 protein sequences. We then further analyzed five samples from the Microbiome, Atopy, and Prematurity (MAP) study including peptidomic and protease activity analysis. Each HMB sample had between 806 and 1,007 proteins, with 37-44 nonhuman proteins/sample encompassing 26 plant and animal species. In the preterm MAP samples, 784 digested nonhuman proteins were identified, 30 were nonbovine in origin. Proteins from 23 different species including aeroallergens, food, and contact allergens were identified. Protease activity was highest in HM samples without human milk fortifier and lowest in preterm formula. These findings represent the first preterm milk feed mass spectrometry and protease analysis with identification of known allergenic proteins to food, contact, and aeroallergens. These results raise questions of whether the composition of milk feeds in the neonatal intensive care unit impact the development of atopic disease in the preterm population and whether the complex interaction between allergens, proteases, and other HM components can serve to induce sensitization or tolerance to allergens in infants. Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT04835935.
Topics: Animals; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Allergens; Breast Feeding; Infant, Premature; Infant, Premature, Diseases; Milk, Human; Peptide Hydrolases
PubMed: 36251466
DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2022.0115 -
Journal of Proteomics Jun 2016Allergen levels in fresh and processed foods can vary dynamically. As different sources of foods can cause different types of allergic reactions, the food industry and... (Review)
Review
UNLABELLED
Allergen levels in fresh and processed foods can vary dynamically. As different sources of foods can cause different types of allergic reactions, the food industry and regulatory bodies urgently require reliable detection and absolute quantitation methods for allergen detection in complex food products to effectively safeguard the food-allergic population. Recent advances of targeted proteomic technologies namely multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mass spectrometry (MS) coupled with isotope-labeled internal standard, also known as AQUA peptides offers absolute quantitation of food allergens even at 10ppb level in a multiplex fashion. However, development of successful AQUA-MRM assay relies on a number of pre and post MS criteria. In this review, we briefly describe how allergen levels could potentially change in plant and animal based foods, necessitating the development of a high throughput multiplexed allergen quantification methodology for successful AQUA-MRM assay. We also propose some future strategies that could provide better management of food allergy.
BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Given the rapid increases of food allergenicity, it has become imperative to know absolute allergen levels in foods. This essential information could be the most effective means of protecting humans suffering from allergies. In this review, we emphasize the significance of the absolute quantitation of food allergens using AQUA-MRM approach and discuss the likely critical steps for successful assay development.
Topics: Allergens; Food Hypersensitivity; Humans; Isotope Labeling; Mass Spectrometry; Proteomics
PubMed: 27113134
DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2016.04.018 -
Allergology International : Official... Jun 2009The prevalence of pollinosis caused by cedar pollen has increased by 10% these ten years of 26.5% in the investigation of 2008 in Japan. The pharmacotherapy is a main... (Review)
Review
The prevalence of pollinosis caused by cedar pollen has increased by 10% these ten years of 26.5% in the investigation of 2008 in Japan. The pharmacotherapy is a main treatment tool for pollinosis, and the surgical treatment is not acknowledged to the treatment of pollinosis internationally. Moreover, allergen immunotherapy enters a special treatment method, and is an important therapeutic procedure. The allergen immunotherapy is unique for having possibility of curing allergen specific allergic diseases. However the side effect of allergen subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT), such as anaphylaxis is kept at a distance in a medical situation in Japan. Then, a sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) that was safer than it, developed in Europe for pollinosis induced by grass or ragweed, but not in Japan. As a result, the effect of SLIT was proven in the cedar pollinosis in Japan as high level evidence. A whole body immunity induction is thought in the appearance of the effect, and, in addition, it is necessary to be going to be cleared the accurate mechanism of the effect in the future. Moreover, the development of a special SLIT and the import of an overseas product are needed in Japan.
Topics: Administration, Sublingual; Allergens; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cryptomeria; Desensitization, Immunologic; Humans; Japan; Quality of Life; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal
PubMed: 19390236
DOI: 10.2332/allergolint.08-RAI-0072 -
Journal of Investigational Allergology... Jun 2023Allergen products for subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) contain intact allergen extracts or chemically modified allergoids. Chemical modification was introduced to...
Comparison of Intact Allergen Extracts and Allergoids For Subcutaneous Immunotherapy: The Effect of Chemical Modification Differs Both Between Species and Between Individual Allergen Molecules.
BACKGROUND
Allergen products for subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) contain intact allergen extracts or chemically modified allergoids. Chemical modification was introduced to reduce allergenicity while retaining immunogenicity and thereby enable safer and more efficient allergy immunotherapy.
METHODS
Experimental allergoids were produced from intact allergen extract for birch, grass, and house dust mite (HDM) to evaluate the effects of chemical modification. Preparations were compared with commercial allergoids and analyzed using SDS-PAGE/immunoblotting, IgE-inhibition assays, and crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE). Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) vaccines were also tested for protease activity and immunizing capacity in a mouse model.
RESULTS
The composition of IgE-binding epitopes in allergoids differed from that of intact allergen vaccines. Birch and grass allergoids produced smears of protein aggregates on SDS-PAGE, whereas intact allergen preparations showed distinct protein bands as expected. Der p allergoid vaccines, however, showed a distinct protein band corresponding to major allergen Der p 1 in both SDS-PAGE and CIE analysis, and commercial Der p allergoid vaccines showed Der p 1-related cysteine protease activity.
CONCLUSION
Allergoids and intact allergen preparations differ with respect to the composition of IgE-binding epitopes. However, chemical cross-linking does not affect every allergen molecule to the same degree. Der p 1, for example, remains largely unmodified. Furthermore, the investigational HDM allergoid vaccines showed reduced and delayed immune responses when used for immunization of mice.
Topics: Mice; Humans; Animals; Allergens; Allergoids; Hypersensitivity; Immunotherapy; Pyroglyphidae; Poaceae; Epitopes; Immunoglobulin E; Vaccines; Plant Extracts; Antigens, Dermatophagoides
PubMed: 35088765
DOI: 10.18176/jiaci.0783 -
Nutrients Nov 2018Food allergy has been on the increase for many years. The prevalence of allergy to different foods varies widely depending on type of food, frequency of consumption and... (Review)
Review
Food allergy has been on the increase for many years. The prevalence of allergy to different foods varies widely depending on type of food, frequency of consumption and geographic location. Data from the literature suggests that the prevalence of tree nut allergy is of the order of 1% in the general population. Almond is one such tree nut that is frequently eaten in many parts of the world and represents a potential allergenic hazard. Given the need to label products that contain allergens, a number of different methods of direct and indirect detection have been developed. However, in the absence of population-based threshold data, and given that almond allergy is rare, the sensitivity of the required detection is unknown and thus aims as low as possible. Typically, this is less than 1 ppm, which matches the thresholds that have been shown for other allergens. This review highlights the lack of quantitative data on prevalence and thresholds for almonds, which is limiting progress in consumer protection.
Topics: Allergens; Food Analysis; Humans; Nut Hypersensitivity; Prunus dulcis
PubMed: 30412996
DOI: 10.3390/nu10111706 -
Cells Sep 2019Food allergies associated with class E immunoglobulins (IgE) are a serious health problem that affects between 1% and 10% of the population of developing countries, with... (Review)
Review
Food allergies associated with class E immunoglobulins (IgE) are a serious health problem that affects between 1% and 10% of the population of developing countries, with a variability that depends on the geographical area and age range considered. These allergies are caused by a cross-link reaction between a specific food protein (the allergen) and the host IgE. Allergic reactions can range from mild itching to anaphylactic shock and there are no clues to predict the effects of an allergen. Strict avoidance of allergenic food is the only way to avoid possible serious allergic reactions. In the last 30 years a growing number of molecular studies have been conducted to obtain information on the diffusion of food allergens and to establish the structural basis of their allergenicity. At the same time, these studies have also allowed the development of molecular tools (mainly based on synthetic peptides and recombinant allergens) that can be of great help for diagnostic and therapeutic approaches of food allergies. Accordingly, this review focuses on advances in the study of food allergens made possible by molecular technologies and how results and technologies can be integrated for the development of a systematic food molecular allergology. The review may be of interest both to scientists approaching this field of investigation and to physicians who wish to have an update on the progress of research in diagnosis and therapy of food allergies.
Topics: Allergens; Food Hypersensitivity; Humans; Immunoglobulin E; Immunotherapy; Molecular Biology
PubMed: 31547388
DOI: 10.3390/cells8091073 -
Allergology International : Official... Jul 2021Pollen from many tree species in the Cupressaceae family is a well-known cause of seasonal allergic diseases worldwide. Japanese cedar pollinosis and Japanese cypress... (Review)
Review
Pollen from many tree species in the Cupressaceae family is a well-known cause of seasonal allergic diseases worldwide. Japanese cedar pollinosis and Japanese cypress pollinosis, which are caused by pollen from Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) and Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa), respectively, are the most prevalent seasonal allergic diseases in Japan. Recently, the novel major Japanese cypress allergen Cha o 3 and the homologous Japanese cedar allergen Cry j cellulase were identified, and it was shown, for the first time, that cellulase in plants is allergenic. Although the allergenic components of pollen from both species exhibit high amino acid sequence identity, their pollinosis responded differently to allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) using a standardized extract of Japanese cedar pollen. Pharmacotherapy and ASIT for Japanese cedar and cypress pollinosis have advanced considerably in recent years. In particular, Japanese cedar ASIT has entered a new phase, primarily in response to the generation of updated efficacy data and the development of new formulations. In this review, we focus on both Japanese cypress and cedar pollinosis, and discuss the latest findings, newly identified causative allergens, and new treatments. To manage pollinosis symptoms during spring effectively, ASIT for both Japanese cedar and Japanese cypress pollen is considered necessary.
Topics: Allergens; Cellulase; Chamaecyparis; Cross Reactions; Cryptomeria; Desensitization, Immunologic; Humans; Plant Proteins; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal
PubMed: 33962864
DOI: 10.1016/j.alit.2021.04.002 -
Allergology International : Official... Oct 2016Due to the high prevalence of food allergic diseases globally there are increasing demands in clinical practice for managing IgE-mediated conditions. During the last... (Review)
Review
Due to the high prevalence of food allergic diseases globally there are increasing demands in clinical practice for managing IgE-mediated conditions. During the last decade, component resolved diagnostics has been introduced into the field of clinical allergology, providing information that cannot be obtained from extract-based tests. Component resolved data facilitate more precise diagnosis of allergic diseases and identify sensitizations attributable to cross-reactivity. Furthermore it assists risk assessment in clinical practice as sensitization to some allergenic molecules is related to persistence of clinical symptoms and systemic rather than local reactions. The information may also aid the clinician in prescription of oral immunotherapy (OIT) in patients with severe symptoms, and in giving advice on food allergen avoidance or on the need to perform food challenges. The use of allergen components is rapidly evolving and increases our possibility to treat food allergic patients with a more individual approach. Using molecular allergology, we can already now better diagnose, prognose and grade the food allergy. In summary, daily routine molecular allergy diagnostics offers a number of benefits that give us a higher diagnostic precision and allow for better management of the patient.
Topics: Allergens; Animals; Cross Reactions; Desensitization, Immunologic; Food; Food Hypersensitivity; Humans; Immune Tolerance; Immunoglobulin E
PubMed: 27543004
DOI: 10.1016/j.alit.2016.07.002 -
Food Chemistry Jul 2022It is important to develop tools that can be used to understand the effects of processing on allergenic foods in order to achieve personalized food labeling. To evaluate...
It is important to develop tools that can be used to understand the effects of processing on allergenic foods in order to achieve personalized food labeling. To evaluate the effect of heating on the allergy-relevant structural properties of tropomyosin (TM), arginine kinase (AK), myosin light chain (MLC) and sarcoplasmic calcium-binding protein (SCP) shrimp allergens, trypsin digests of raw, fried and baked shrimp extracts were analyzed by peptidomics and epitope correlations. Processing altered the number of peptides released from the distinct allergens, and each treatment generated a specific epitope-matched peptide allergen fingerprint. Among the four allergens, TM led to a number of released peptides and epitope changes being detected, and AK provided the epitope-matched MGLTEFQAVK sequence as a common differentiating peptide for heat processing. These results provide new views on the structural effects of processing on major shrimp allergens and peptide candidates as processing biomarkers.
Topics: Allergens; Animals; Biomarkers; Food Hypersensitivity; Hot Temperature; Penaeidae; Tropomyosin
PubMed: 35247661
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.132567 -
International Journal of Nanomedicine 2017Allergen-specific immunotherapy was introduced in clinical settings more than 100 years ago. It remains the only curative approach to treating allergic disorders that... (Review)
Review
Allergen-specific immunotherapy was introduced in clinical settings more than 100 years ago. It remains the only curative approach to treating allergic disorders that ameliorates symptoms, reduces medication costs, and blocks the onset of new sensitizations. Despite this clinical evidence and knowledge of some immunological mechanisms, there remain some open questions regarding the safety and efficacy of this treatment. This suggests the need for novel therapeutic approaches that attempt to reduce the dose and frequency of treatment administration, improving patient compliance, and reducing costs. In this context, the use of novel adjuvants has been proposed and, in recent years, biomedical applications using nanoparticles have been exploited in the attempt to find formulations with improved stability, bioavailability, favorable biodistribution profiles, and the capability of targeting specific cell populations. In this article, we review some of the most relevant regulatory aspects and challenges concerning nanoparticle-based formulations with immunomodulatory potential, their related immunosafety issues, and the nature of the nanoparticles most widely employed in the allergy field. Furthermore, we report in vitro and in vivo data published using allergen/nanoparticle systems, discuss their impact on the immune system in terms of immunomodulatory activity and the reduction of side effects, and show that this strategy is a novel and promising tool for the development of allergy vaccines.
Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Allergens; Animals; Biological Availability; Desensitization, Immunologic; Humans; Nanoparticles; Tissue Distribution
PubMed: 28684909
DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S134630