Sensitization to Gibberellin-Regulated Protein (Peamaclein) Among Italian Cypress Pollen–Sensitized Patients
Riccardo Asero, S Abbadessa, Arianna Aruanno, Giuseppe Barilaro, Claudio Barzaghi, Donatella Bignardi, MB Bilò, Matteo Borro, M. Bresciani, Moira Busa, Francesca Buzzulini, Carlo Cavaliere, Lorenzo Cecchi, A Ciccarelli, Gabriele Cortellini, Francesco Cucinelli, Gaia Deleonardi, F. Emiliani, Alessandro Farsi, Ettore Ferrarini, Maurizio Franchini, A. Ingrassia, D Lippolis, Laura Losappio, Alessandro Maria Marra, Matteo Martini, Simonetta Masieri, Maria Gaetana Di Mauro, Marcello Mazzolini, L. Muratore, F Murzilli, Eleonora Nucera, Elide A. Pastorello, Elena Pinter, BR Polillo, Valerio Pravettoni, O Quercia, Angela Rizzi, Marina Russello, Carlo Sacerdoti, Enrico Scala, Alfonso Scarpa, Jan Walter Schroeder, Carina Gabriela Uasuf, D Villalta, B. Yang, Gianni Mistrello, S. Amato, Jonas Lidholm
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Peach gibberellin-regulated protein (peamaclein) has recently emerged as a relevant food allergen in cypress pollen-hypersensitive patients. Objective: We investigated monosensitization to peamaclein among Italian cypress pollen-allergic patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 835 cypress pollen-hypersensitive patients from 28 Italian allergy centers underwent a thorough work-up to determine food-allergic reactions and performed skin prick testing with a commercial peach extract containing peamaclein. IgE to rPru p 3 was measured in peach reactors, and those with negative results were enrolled as potentially monosensitized to peamaclein. IgE reactivity to rPru p 7 was evaluated using immunoblot and an experimental ImmunoCAP with rPru p 7. RESULTS: Skin prick tests were positive to peach in 163 patients (19.5%); however, 127 (77.9%) were excluded because they reacted to Pru p 3. Twenty-four patients (14.7%) corresponding to 2.8% of the entire study population) were considered potentially monosensitized to peamaclein. No geographic preference was observed. Seventeen of the 24 patients (70.8%) had a history of food allergy, mainly to peach (n=15). Additional offending foods included other Rosaceae, citrus fruits, fig, melon, tree nuts, and kiwi. On peach immunoblot, only 3 of 18 putative peamaclein-allergic patients reacted to a band at about 7 kDa; an additional 4 patients reacted at about 50-60 kDa. Ten of 18 patients (56%) had a positive result for Pru p 7 on ImmunoCAP. CONCLUSION: Allergy and sensitization to peamaclein seem rare in Italy. Most patients react to peach, although other Rosaceae fruits and several citrus fruits may also be offending foods. Peach and cypress pollen probably also share cross-reacting allergens other than peamaclein.