Analysis of the dynamics of clinical indicators in patients with allergic rhinitis with sensitization to pollen and household allergens using combined allergen-specific immunotherapy

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of combined allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) with combined sensitization to pollen and household allergens. To achieve this goal, 49 patients with AR of working age were examined – 35.5±1.5 years with clinical manifestations of seasonal rhinoconjunctival syndrome with a long period of 9.2±1.1 years, among which there were 25 (51.0%) males and 24 (49%) females. All patients were divided into 2 homogeneous groups by age, sex, duration of the disease, the average number of etiologically significant allergens: the main one – 31 patients who received combined ASIT with solutions of pollen and household allergens and a comparison group – 18 patients for whom only pollen allergens were used. Allergological examination included anamnesis, skin tests with pollen allergens (wormwood, ragweed, quinoa, corn, etc.) and household (house dust, mites, epidermal agents) and / or molecular research methods using the ALEX technology. The quantitative integral assessment of the intensity of AR clinical symptoms was calculated as a total score for the main symptoms. The maximum score for the severity of nasal symptoms – 12, eye - 6, total – 18. The results obtained and their analysis indicate that under the influence of ASIT pollen and household allergens in patients there is a significant and reliable decrease in the intensity of clinical manifestations of seasonal rhinoconjunctive syndrome: nasal manifestations – by 52,2%, conjunctival – by 60%, integral – by 54.3% and an increase of 2.2 times in the percentage of patients in the main group with the disappearance or minimization of clinical symptoms of the disease after treatment compared with patients from the comparison group, which convincingly proves and confirms high efficiency of the selected type of therapy in patients with AR in combination with sensitization to pollen and household allergens.

New dot-blot method for evaluating the effect of inactivators on mite and Japanese cedar pollen allergens

ABSTRACT As a method of evaluating the effect of inactivators on allergens while suppressing the effect of inactivator on the assay, we developed new dot-blot method that combines immunostaining and protein detection methods. This method is useful for evaluating whether the inactivator can inactivate allergens rather than removing them from the assay.

Grass pollen sensitization in dogs in Paraná, Brazil: comparison between percutaneous and intradermal testing

ABSTRACT Canine atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory, genetic, pruritic and chronic dermatosis that affects between 10 and 30% of dogs and one of the most important allergens is grass pollen. The objective of this study was to evaluate the sensitization to grass pollen allergens in dogs with canine atopic dermatitis and to compare intradermal skin test (IDT) with percutaneous test (PT). For this study, ten healthy dogs and 39 dogs with atopic dermatitis were tested. Dogs were submitted to IDT and PT for Lolium multiflorum, Cynodon dactylon and Paspalum notatum. The IDT and PT tests were compared using the Proportion Test. All healthy dogs were negative to both tests. Ten atopic dogs (25.6%) responded positively to the PT and none were positive in IDT. C. dactylon, L. multiflorum and P. notatum were responsible for positive reactions in 70%, 70% and 30% of positive dogs, respectively. The number of positive reactions in PT were statistically higher than IDT (P<0.05). In conclusion, grass pollen can be important source of allergens for dogs in Paraná state (Brazil) and the PT showed higher sensitization to grass pollen in dogs with atopic dermatitis than IDT.

Prevalence of Pollen Allergy in Rural Telangana (Bhongir) and the Need for Continuous Monitoring of Allergens - A Pilot Study

Prevalence of pollen allergies in the rural population of Telangana is under-studied. The objective of this work was to estimate the prevalence of pollen allergy in the rural town of Bhongir, Telangana and to evaluate the need for further investigation of environmental effects on the onset of pollen allergies. A pilot survey was conducted among fifty randomly selected individuals of Kisan nagar area in Bhongir, Telangana (India) and its nearby localities using a questionnaire. Patients with known allergies were further asked to provide information about their allergic conditions and treatment. Six out of the fifty participants (CI: 1.5-10.5) were found to be allergic to pollen. The allergic participants did not have symptoms from birth but rather developed them during the later stages of life. The study also identified the potential pollen allergens in the locality which might be the cause of the allergies in the affected individuals. Furthermore, the study revealed that the commonly recommended medications were neither the preventive measures nor the permanent cure against the symptoms of pollen allergy. The results suggest a trend of rural youth with no genetic predisposition, developing pollen allergies due to environmental sensitization. The study highlights the need for the establishment of regional monitoring stations, and future studies with larger samples to understand the sensitization pathways to help the locals take preventative measures.

Bovine Holo-Beta-Lactoglobulin Cross-Protects Against Pollen Allergies in an Innate Manner in BALB/c Mice: Potential Model for the Farm Effect

The lipocalin beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) is a major protein compound in cow’s milk, and we detected it in cattle stable dust. BLG may be a novel player in the farm protective effect against atopic sensitization and hayfever. In previous studies, we demonstrated that only the ligand-filled holo-form of BLG prevented sensitization to itself. Here, we investigated whether holo-BLG could, in an innate manner, also protect against allergic sensitization to unrelated birch pollen allergens using a murine model. BALB/c mice were nasally pretreated four times in biweekly intervals with holo-BLG containing quercetin–iron complexes as ligands, with empty apo-BLG, or were sham-treated. Subsequently, mice were intraperitoneally sensitized two times with apo-BLG or with the unrelated birch pollen allergen apo-Bet v 1, adjuvanted with aluminum hydroxide. After subsequent systemic challenge with BLG or Bet v 1, body temperature drop was monitored by anaphylaxis imaging. Specific antibodies in serum and cytokines of BLG- and Bet v 1-stimulated splenocytes were analyzed by ELISA. Additionally, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells of pollen allergic subjects were stimulated with apo- versus holo-BLG before assessment by FACS. Prophylactic treatment with the holo-BLG resulted in protection against allergic sensitization and clinical reactivity also to Bet v 1 in an unspecific manner. Pretreatment with holo-BLG resulted in significantly lower BLG-as well as Bet v 1-specific antibodies and impaired antigen-presentation with significantly lower numbers of CD11c+MHCII+ cells expressing CD86. Pretreatment with holo-BLG also reduced the release of Th2-associated cytokines from Splenocytes in BLG-sensitized mice. Similarly, in vitro stimulation of PBMCs from birch pollen allergic subjects with holo-BLG resulted in a relative decrease of CD3+CD4+ and CD4+CRTh2 cells, but not of CD4+CD25+CD127− Treg cells, compared to apo-BLG stimulation. In conclusion, prophylactic treatment with holo-BLG protected against allergy in an antigen-specific and -unspecific manner by decreasing antigen presentation, specific antibody production and abrogating a Th2-response. Holo-BLG therefore promotes immune resilience against pollen allergens in an innate manner and may thereby contribute to the farm protective effect against atopic sensitization.

Pollen Allergy; Mechanism and Etiology

The term allergy refers to an exaggerated immune response to a foreign molecule. In a normal healthy individual, this foreign molecule will act as a harmless antigen, as it will be recognized & cleared by the immune system without causing any significant damage to host tissues. In certain individuals, such antigens stimulate immune system in such a way that a series of exaggerated immune response are generated against it, leading to significant tissue injury and damage to the host. Such as exaggerated immune response may also cause death of the patient. Such antigen is termed as an allergen. Allergy is categorised under Immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated type I hypersensitivity reactions. These reactions occur when an antigen acting as an allergen attacks the immune system of the host and causes excessive stimulation of mast cells and basophils. This is followed by the release of allergy mediators which are responsible for causing local or systemic anaphylaxis, allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis, conjuctivitis. Type I allergens are of various types, the mechanism of action is same; however underlying factors may differ in each type. This article is about pollen allergens, in specific & will discuss the common sources of pollen allergens in Pakistan, the relevance and the factors behind pollen allergy.

The Role of Lipid Transfer Proteins as Food and Pollen Allergens Outside the Mediterranean Area

Purpose of Review To provide an overview of the prevalence and clinical manifestation of non-specific lipid transfer proteins (LTP)-mediated allergies outside the Mediterranean area and to address potential reasons for the different geographical significance of LTP-driven allergies. Recent Findings LTPs are major allergens in the Mediterranean area, which frequently can elicit severe reactions. Pru p 3 the LTP from peach is reported as genuine allergen and is considered a prototypic marker for LTP-mediated allergies. However, both food and pollen LTP allergies exist outside the Mediterranean area, but with lower clinical significance, different immunogenicity, and less clarified role. Summary Evidence has been reported that in areas with high exposure to pollen, in particular to mugwort, pollen-derived LTPs can act as a primary sensitizer to trigger secondary food allergies. Co-sensitization to unrelated allergens might be causative for less severe reactions in response to LTPs. However, the reason for the geographical different sensitization patterns to LTPs remains unclear.