Immunoglobulin E reactivity and allergenic potency of Morus papyrifera (paper mulberry) Pollen

Background: paper mulberry (morus papyrifera) pollen is considered to be one of the most clinically relevant aeroallergens in pakistan. to date,the allergenicity of the pollen has not been investigated. objective: to characterize the sensitization profi le of mulberry-allergic patients and the proteins of paper mulberry pollen contributing to pollinosis in the pakistani population. methods: proteins were extracted from mulberry pollen using different protocols. immunoglobulin (ig) e binding proteins to mulberry pollen was determined by immunocap testing and immunoblotting using sera from 29 mulberry pollen-allergic patients with positive skin prick test results to mulberry pollen antigens. the histamine release assay was performed in vitro to determine the allergenic potency of pollen extracts and a partially purifi ed mulberry pollen allergen. the protein was identifi ed using n-terminal sequencing and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of fl ight spectrometry (maldi-tof/tof). results: ige sensitization to mulberry pollen was confi rmed by positive immunocap results to pollen from morus alba (white mulberry) in 23 out of 29 mulberry pollen-allergic patients. a 10-kda protein from the paper mulberry pollen extract was considered a major allergen,along with additional ige-reactive proteins. sera from 79% of the patients reacted to the 10-kda allergen,which showed substantial capacity to trigger histamine release in 3 out of 4 patients. n-terminal sequencing and maldi-tof/tof yielded an amino acid sequence with no homology to known proteins. conclusions: mulberry-allergic patients are sensitized to multiple mulberry pollen allergens. we identifi ed a novel 10-kda protein that was a major allergen and should be further investigated for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. © 2013 esmon publicidad.