CTLA-4 signaling regulates the intensity of hypersensitivity responses to food antigens, but is not decisive in the induction of sensitization

Although food allergy has emerged as a major health problem, the mechanisms that are decisive in the development of sensitization to dietary Ag remain largely unknown. CTLA-4 signaling negatively regulates immune activation, and may play a crucial role in preventing induction and/or progression of sensitization to food Ag. To elucidate the role...

Ridascreen® fast peanut, a rapid and safe tool to determine peanut contamination in food

During the last years allergenic substances in food have gained more and more attention. Stricter rules for a peanut free food labelling demand a peanut contamination less than 5 ppm. The maintenance of a high quality of food products with regards to allergenic exposure is preferable warranted with rapid tests that can be utilized as an aid for...

Food allergy: What do we learn from animal models?

Purpose of review This review summarizes selected articles on animal models of food allergy published in 2003. The research areas that are covered include mechanistic studies, the search for new therapies, as well as screening models for hazard identification of potential allergens. Recent findings Novel treatment options of both prevention and...

Relevance of Ara h1, Ara h2 and Ara h3 in peanut-allergic patients, as determined by immunoglobulin E Western blotting, basophil-histamine release and intracutaneous testing: Ara h2 is the most important peanut allergen

Background: A number of allergenic proteins in peanut has been described and the relative importance of these allergens is yet to be determined. Objectives: We have investigated the relevance of previously identified peanut allergens in well-characterized peanut-allergic patients by in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo assays. Methods: Thirty-two adult...

Peanut allergy: Sensitization by peanut oil-containing local therapeutics seems unlikely [4]

Ara h 8, a Bet v 1-homologous allergen from peanut, is a major allergen in patients with combined birch pollen and peanut allergy

We recently described patients with soybean allergy mainly mediated by cross-reactivity to birch pollen allergens. A majority of those patients were reported to have peanut allergy. We sought to study the occurrence of peanut allergy in patients allergic to birch pollen and characterized the Bet v 1-homologous peanut allergen Ara h 8....

Mixed antibody and T cell responses to peanut and the peanut allergens Ara h 1, Ara h 2, Ara h 3 and Ara h 6 in an oral sensitization model

Background: Peanut allergy is known for its severity and persistence through life. Several peanut proteins have been identified as allergenic and are indicated as Ara h 1-7. Very little is known about the mechanisms that underlie sensitization to peanut proteins. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to reveal the immune responses that...

Peanut allergen Ara h 3: Isolation from peanuts and biochemical characterization

Background: Peanut allergen Ara h 3 has been the subject of investigation for the last few years. The reported data strongly depend on recombinant Ara h 3, since a purification protocol for Ara h 3 from peanuts was not available. Methods: Peanut allergen Ara h 3 (glycinin), was purified and its posttranslational processing was investigated. Its...

Patients with anaphylaxis to pea can have peanut allergy caused by cross-reactive lgE to vicilin (Ara h 1)

Background: Serologic cross-reactivity among legumes has been described; however, it is rarely clinically significant. In this study 3 patients with a history of anaphylaxis to pea are described who subsequently had symptoms after ingestion of peanut. Objective: We investigated whether the peanut-related symptoms were due to cross-reactivity...

Assessment of the allergic potential of food protein extracts and proteins on oral application using the Brown Norway rat model

The need for widely accepted and validated animal models to test the potential allergenicity and potency of novel (biotechnology-derived) proteins has become an important issue for their safety evaluation.In this article, we summarize the results of the development of an oral sensitization protocol for food proteins in the rat. Young Brown...

Assessment of protein allergenicity on the basis of immune reactivity: Animal models

Because of the public concern surrounding the issue of the safety of genetically modified organisms, it is critical to have appropriate methodologies to aid investigators in identifying potential hazards associated with consumption of foods produced with these materials. A regent panel of experts convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization...

Quantification of major peanut allergens Ara h 1 and Ara h 2 in the peanut varieties Runner, Spanish, Virginia, and Valencia, bred in different parts of the world

Background: The serology of peanut allergy seems to be different in various parts of the world. We analyzed the composition of 13 samples of three varieties of peanut in order to compare their allergenic nature. Methods: Peanut cultivars that are commonly processed in the West were analyzed for protein content, protein composition, and Ara h 1...

Heat-induced conformational changes of Ara h 1, a major peanut allergen, do not affect its allergenic properties

Ara h 1, a major peanut allergen was isolated, and its structure on secondary, tertiary, and quaternary level at ambient temperature was investigated using spectroscopic and biochemical techniques. Ara h 1 appeared to be a highly structured protein on a secondary level, possesses a clear tertiary fold, and is present as a trimeric complex. Heat...

Identification and partial characterization of multiple major allergens in peanut proteins

Background: Peanuts are a major cause of food allergies both in children as in adults which can induce an anaphylactic shock. The identification and characterization of peanut allergens could lead to more insight into the mechanism and contribute to the improvement of diagnostic tests and treatment for peanut allergy. Objectives: In the present...

Food allergen (peanut)-specific TH2 clones generated from the peripheral blood of a patient with peanut allergy

Background: Increasing evidence indicates a prominent role of allergen-specific TH2 cells, with high IL-4 and IL-5 production and low interferon-γ production, in the regulation of IgE and eosinophil production in allergic disorders. However, most studies have concentrated on T cells reactive with inhalation allergens, whereas little is known...