Kosin Med J.  2019 Dec;34(2):126-137. 10.7180/kmj.2019.34.2.126.

Tree Pollen Sensitization and Cross-Reaction of Children with Allergic Rhinitis or Asthma

• Park YJ
• Hwang YH

• KMID: 2467973
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7180/kmj.2019.34.2.126

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Tree pollen causes allergic rhinitis and asthma. We investigated children who diagnosed as rhinitis or asthma, living in Busan, for tree allergen sensitization, component allergen, oral allergy syndrome, and the relationship between pollen counts and allergen sensitization.
METHODS
Pollen were collected in Busan, from January 1 to December 31, 2017, using a Rotorod sampler and enumerated using a microscope. We conducted a study of children with rhinitis or asthma at Busan St. Mary's Hospital in 2017, administered an ISAAC questionnaire, and an oral allergy syndrome survey. Serum specific Ig E tests were performed.
RESULTS
Among the 57 patients, the mean age was 9.3 years. The pollen counts in decreasing order were as follows: pine, alder, oak, juniper, beech, ginkgo, and birch. For sensitization, birch and alder 35.1%, Japanese cedar 19.3%, juniper 17.5%, pine 10.5%, and Japanese cypress 8.2%. The component Ig E was tested in 27 patients. Bet v 1 had a high correlation with birch, alder, and peach. Bet v 2 showed a statistically significant correlation with all tree pollen except cypress. Bet v 4 did not have any apparent correlation. Bet v 6 had the same pattern as Bet v 2, but correlation coefficient was higher than that of Bet v 2. Oral allergy syndrome was noted in 7 patients, including peach, peanut, apple, tomato, kiwi, and sesame.
CONCLUSIONS
Alder and juniper are clinically important tree pollens in Busan. These pollens cause sensitization to birch and Japanese cedar by cross-reaction.

Keyword

Allergy; Busan; Pollen

MeSH Terms

Alnus
Arachis
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Asthma*
Betula
Busan
Child*
Cryptomeria
Cupressus
Fagus
Ginkgo biloba
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Juniperus
Lycopersicon esculentum
Pollen*
Prunus persica
Rhinitis
Rhinitis, Allergic*
Sesamum
Trees*

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Monthly pollen in Busan (2017)

• 

  Fig. 2 The sensitization rates of the patients

• 

  Fig. 3 The correlation of specific Ig E between alder and birch (A), juniper and Japanese cedar (B)

Reference

1. Lewis WH, Vinay P, Zenger VE. Airborne and allergenic pollen of North America. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press;1983.

2. Nilsson S, Praglowski J, Nilsson L. Atlas of airborne pollen grains and spores in northern Europe. Stockholm: Almquist & Wiksell International;1977.

3. Nilsson ST, Spieksma FM. Traveller's allergy service guide. Stockholm: Palynological Laboratory, Swedish Museum of Natural History;1992.

4. Kim JH, Kim SH, Park HW, Cho SH, Chang YS. Oral allergy syndrome in birch pollen-sensitized patients from a Korean university hospital. J Korean Med Sci. 2018; 33:e218.

5. Durham OC. Incidence of ragweed pollen in United States during 1929. JAMA. 1930; 94:1907–1911.

6. Lewis WH, Imber WE. Allergy epidemiology in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. III. Trees. Ann Allergy. 1975; 35:113–119.

7. Al-Doory Y, Domson JF, Best J. Further studies of the airborne fungi and pollens of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Ann Allergy. 1982; 49:265–269.

8. Hong CS, Hwang Y, Oh SH, Kim HJ, Huh KB, Lee SY. Survey of the airborne pollens in Seoul, Korea. Yonsei Med J. 1986; 27:114–120.

9. Kim HS, Lee MK, Park HS, Kim HJ, Hong CS. Pollen counts in the air of Seoul during 88 Seoul Olympics from September 1st to October 10th, 1988. Allergy. 1989; 9:564–570.

10. Min KU. Aerobiological and allergological study for airborne pollen in Seoul. Allergy. 1984; 4:1–20.

11. Oh JW, Lee HR, Kim JS, Lee KI, Kang YJ, Kim SW, et al. Aerobiological study of pollen and mold in the 10 states of Korea. Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis. 2000; 10:22–33.

12. Kim TB, Kim KM, Kim SH, Kang HR, Chang YS, Kim CW, et al. Sensitization rates for inhalant allergens in Korea; a multi-center study. J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003; 23:483–493.

13. Sung MS, Park YJ, Park GH, Oh JW, Kim SW. The correlation between allergy sensitization rate in pediatric and aerobiological study for airborne pollen in Busan for 15 years. Allergy Asthma Respir Dis. 2014; 2:38–47.

14. Choi SW, Lee JH, Kim YH, Oh IB, Choi KR. Association between the sensitization rate for inhalant allergens in patients with respiratory allergies and the pollen concentration in Ulsan, Korea. Korean J Med. 2014; 86:453–461.

15. Park HJ, Lim HS, Park KH, Lee JH, Park JW, Hong CS. Changes in allergen sensitization over the last 30 years in Korea respiratory allergic patients: a single-center. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2014; 6:434–443.

16. Kim J, Hahm MI, Lee SY, Kim WK, Chae Y, Park YM, et al. Sensitization to aeroallergens in Korean children: a population-based study in 2010. J Korean Med Sci. 2011; 26:1165–1172.

17. Jeon BH, Lee JC, Kim JH, Kim JW, Lee HS, Lee KH. Atopy and sensitization rates to aeroallergens in children and teenagers in Jeju, Korea. Korean J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010; 30:14–20.

18. Yang EA, Park YM, Kim KH, Lee HJ, Kim HS, Chun YH, et al. The association between nasal eosinophilia and aeroallergen sensitization in children and adolescents with rhinitis. Allergy Asthma Respir Dis. 2018; 6:161–167.

19. So HJ, Moon SJ, Hwang SY, Kim JH, Jang HJ, Jo JH, et al. Characteristics of airborne pollen in Incheon and Seoul (2015–2016). Asia Pac Allergy. 2017; 7:138–147.

20. Park KJ, Kim HA, Kim KR, Oh JW, Lee SY, Choi YJ. Characteristics of regional distribution of pollen concentration in Korean Peninsula. Korean J Agric Forest Meterol. 2008; 10:167–176.

21. Valenta R, Breiteneder H, Pettenburger K, Breitenbach M, Rumpold H, Kraft D, et al. Homology of the major birch-pollen allergen, Betv I, with the major pollen allergens of alder, hazel, and hornbeam at the nucleic acid level as determined by cross-hybridization. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1991; 87:677–682.

22. Midoro-Horiuti T, Goldblum RM, Kurosky A, Goetz DW, Brooks EG. Isolation and characterization of the mountain cedar (Juniperus ashei) pollen major allergen, Jun a 1. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1999; 104:608–612.

23. Schwietz LA, Goetz DW, Whisman BA, Reid MJ. Cross-reactivity among conifer pollens. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2000; 84:87–93.

24. Harris RM, German DF. The incidence of pine pollen reactivity in an allergic atopic population. Ann Allergy. 1985; 55:678–679.

25. Bufe A, Spangfort MD, Kahlert H, Schlaak M, Becker WM. The major birch pollen allergen, Bet v 1, shows ribonuclease activity. Planta. 1996; 199:413–415.

26. Choi WB, You JS, Yi YY, Jeong SI, Song JS, Yang S, et al. Component-resolved diagnosis using microarray for diagnosing hypersensitivity to raw fruits in birch pollen sensitized children. Allergy Asthma Respir Dis. 2015; 3:200–205.

27. Valenta R, Duchêne M, Vrtala S, Valent P, Sillaber C, Ferreira F, et al. Profilin, a novel plant pan-allergen. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 1992; 99:271–273.

28. Vieths S, Scheurer S, Ballmer-Weber B. Current understanding of cross-reactivity of food allergens and pollen. Ann NY Acad Sci. 2002; 964:47–68.

29. Asero R, Jimeno L, Barber D. Preliminary results of a skin prick test-based study of the prevalence and clinical impact of hypersensitivity to pollen panallergens (polcalcin and profilin). J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2010; 20:35–38.

30. Karamloo F, Schmitz N, Scheurer S, Foetisch K, Hoffmann A, Haustein D, et al. Molecular cloning and characterization of a birch pollen minor allergen, Bet v 5, belonging to a family of isoflavone reductase–related proteins. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1999; 104:991–999.