J Korean Med Sci.  2016 Aug;31(8):1202-1207. 10.3346/jkms.2016.31.8.1202.

Cross-Reactivity between Oak and Birch Pollens in Korean Tree Pollinosis

• Jeong KY
• Son M
• Park JH
• Park KH
• Park HJ
• Lee JH
• Hong CS
• Park JW

• KMID: 2373746
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2016.31.8.1202

Abstract

Oak and birch trees belong to Fagales order. Specific IgE to pollen allergens of both trees are frequently found in Korea pollinosis patients. Oak trees which comprise 40% of forest area are common in Korea. However, birch trees are sparse. We compared the allergenicity of pollen extracts of white oak, sawtooth and Mongolian oaks which are prevalent species in Korea, with the pollen extract of birch. The cross-reactivity of four pollen extracts was examined with pooled sera of 12 patients by ELISA, immunoblotting and CAP inhibitions. A protein of 17 kDa, putatively homologous to a major birch allergen Bet v 1, displayed strong IgE reactivity from white oak and sawtooth oak pollen extract but not from Mongolian oak pollen. Notably, a 23-kDa protein from sawtooth and white oaks showed strong IgE reactivity and inhibited by Bet v 1. IgE binding to white oak was inhibited a maximum of 94.6% by white oak, 93.4% by sawtooth oak, 83.2% by Mongolian oak, and 68.8% by birch. Furthermore, sawtooth oak, white oak, and Mongolian oak extracts were able to inhibit up to 78.5%, 76.6% and 67.3% of IgE binding to birch extract, while birch extract itself inhibited up to 94.3%. Specific IgE to Bet v 1 was inhibited a maximum of 79.1% by sawtooth oak, 77.4% by white oak, and 72.7% by Mongolian oak, while 81.5% inhibition was shown by birch. Bet v 1 was able to partially inhibit its homologous molecules from sawtooth oak and white oak in immunoblotting. Birch pollen extract was found to be cross-reactive primarily with Bet v 1-homologous allergen from oak pollens in Korea pollinosis patients. Considering the sparseness of birch tree in Korea, oak, especially sawtooth oak may be the main cause of tree pollinosis in Korea, rather than birch.

Keyword

Cross-Reactivity; Oak Pollen; Tree Pollinosis; IgE; Korea

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Allergens/*immunology
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Betula/growth & development/*immunology
Child
Cross Reactions
Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Female
Humans
Hypersensitivity/*diagnosis
Immunoblotting
Immunoglobulin E/blood
Male
Middle Aged
Pollen/*immunology
Quercus/growth & development/*immunology
Republic of Korea
Allergens
Immunoglobulin E

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Correlation of IgE reactivity to white oak and common silver birch pollen extract in Korean tree pollen allergy patients.

• 

  Fig. 2 Antigenic bands of oaks and birch. (A) SDS-PAGE. Proteins (20 μg) were separated onto 18% polyacrylamide gel under reducing condition. (B) IgE immunoblot by probing IgE reactive proteins with serum from patients preincubated without inhibitor. (C) Inhibition immunoblot analysis with recombinant Bet v 1. Lanes: M, molecular mass standard; 1, sawtooth oak (Quercus acutissima); 2, Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica); 3, white oak (Q. alba); 4, common silver birch (Betula verrucosa).

• 

  Fig. 3 Cross-reactivity of Fagales tree pollen extracts. (A) IgE reactivity to white oak was competitively inhibited by pre-incubation of serum with various concentrations of oak and birch. (B) IgE reactivity to common silver birch was also inhibited by oak and birch, and percentage of inhibition calculated to evaluate the cross-reactivity.

• 

  Fig. 4 Cross-reactivity by PR-10 allergens. Inhibition ImmunoCAP analysis against Bet v 1 was performed using sawtooth oak, Mongolian oak, white oak, and common silver birch pollen extracts.

Reference

1. Kim YL, Lee SK, Oh SH, Moon BS, Park HS, Hong CS. A study of allergy skin tests with Korean pollen extracts. Yonsei Med J. 1987; 28:112–118.

2. Kim TB, Kim KM, Kim SH, Kang HR, Chang YS, Kim CW, Bahn JW, Kim YK, Kang HT, Cho SH, et al. Sensitization rates for inhalant allergens in Korea: a multicenter study. J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003; 23:483–493.

3. Lee JW, Choi GS, Kim JE, Jin HJ, Kim JH, Ye YM, Nahm DH, Park HS. Changes in sensitization rate to pollen allergens in allergic patients in the southern part of Gyeonggi province over the last 10 years. Korean J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011; 31:33–40.

4. Park HJ, Lee JH, Park KH, Ann HW, Jin MN, Choi SY, Lee YW, Hong CS, Park JW. A nationwide survey of inhalant allergens sensitization and levels of indoor major allergens in Korea. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2014; 6:222–227.

5. Mari A, Wallner M, Ferreira F. Fagales pollen sensitization in a birch-free area: a respiratory cohort survey using Fagales pollen extracts and birch recombinant allergens (rBet v 1, rBet v 2, rBet v 4). Clin Exp Allergy. 2003; 33:1419–1428.

6. Wallner M, Erler A, Hauser M, Klinglmayr E, Gadermaier G, Vogel L, Mari A, Bohle B, Briza P, Ferreira F. Immunologic characterization of isoforms of Car b 1 and Que a 1, the major hornbeam and oak pollen allergens. Allergy. 2009; 64:452–460.

7. Ebner C, Birkner T, Valenta R, Rumpold H, Breitenbach M, Scheiner O, Kraft D. Common epitopes of birch pollen and apples--studies by western and northern blot. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1991; 88:588–594.

8. Kim GS, Song HK, Lee CH, Cho HJ, Lee CS. Ecological comparison of Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica Fisch. Ex Ledeb.) community between Mt. Nam and Mt. Jeombong as a long term ecological research (LTER) site. Korean J Environ Ecol. 2011; 34:75–85.

9. Hauser M, Asam C, Himly M, Palazzo P, Voltolini S, Montanari C, Briza P, Bernardi ML, Mari A, Ferreira F, et al. Bet v 1-like pollen allergens of multiple Fagales species can sensitize atopic individuals. Clin Exp Allergy. 2011; 41:1804–1814.

10. Radauer C, Lackner P, Breiteneder H. The Bet v 1 fold: an ancient, versatile scaffold for binding of large, hydrophobic ligands. BMC Evol Biol. 2008; 8:286.

11. Breitenbach M, Ferreira F, Jilek A, Swoboda I, Ebner C, Hoffmann-Sommergruber K, Briza P, Scheiner O, Kraft D. Biological and immunological importance of Bet v 1 isoforms. Adv Exp Med Biol. 1996; 409:117–126.

12. Byun JG, Lee WK, Kim M, Kwak DA, Kwak H, Park T, Byun WH, Son Y, Choi JK, Lee YJ, et al. Radial growth response of Pinus densiflora and Quercus spp. To topographic and climatic factors in South Korea. J Plant Ecol. 2013; 6:380–392.

13. Jeong HM, Kim HR, You YH. Growth difference among saplings of Quercus acutissima, Q. variabilis and Q. mongolica under the environmental gradients treatment. Korean J Environ Biol. 2009; 27:82–87.

14. Jeong KY, Hong CS, Lee JS, Park JW. Optimization of allergen standardization. Yonsei Med J. 2011; 52:393–400.

15. Douladiris N, Savvatianos S, Roumpedaki I, Skevaki C, Mitsias D, Papadopoulos NG. A molecular diagnostic algorithm to guide pollen immunotherapy in southern Europe: towards component-resolved management of allergic diseases. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2013; 162:163–172.

16. Altmann F. The role of protein glycosylation in allergy. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2007; 142:99–115.

17. Movérare R, Everberg H, Carlsson R, Holtz A, Thunberg R, Olsson P, Brostedt P, Hogbom E. Purification and characterization of the major oak pollen allergen Que a 1 for component-resolved diagnostics using ImmuoCAP®. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2008; 146:203–211.

18. Ferreira F, Wolf M, Wallner M. Molecular approach to allergy diagnosis and therapy. Yonsei Med J. 2014; 55:839–852.