Identification of apple cultivars hypoallergenic for birch pollen-allergic individuals by a multidisciplinary in vitro and in vivo approach.
Clin Transl Allergy
; 12(8): e12186, 2022 Aug.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36036236
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Birch pollen-related apple allergy is the most frequent IgE-mediated food allergy in Central-Northern Europe with Mal d 1 as major allergen. Its concentration in apples varies with the cultivar and storage time. Year-round appealing, hypoallergenic cultivars still are needed to satisfy the nutritional needs of affected individuals. We characterized three promising cultivars by multidisciplinary in vitro assays including long-term storage and by clinical challenges of allergic individuals before and after the birch pollen season.METHODS:
Proteins were extracted from fruits of 'Santana', 'Golden Delicious' (GD), and three genuine cultivars in November 2018 and April 2019. Mal d 1-levels were analysed by mass spectrometry, SDS-PAGE, immunoblotting, competitive ELISA, and basophil activation tests. Twenty-eight allergic individuals underwent single-blinded open food challenges and skin testing with the cultivars and birch pollen in November 2018 and May 2019. Allergen-specific IgE-levels were determined.RESULTS:
After storage all cultivars except 'Santana' were of appealing appearance and taste. Their Mal d 1 content had increased, also reflected by significantly amplified basophil activation and stronger reactions in clinical challenges. Besides, individuals showed boosted reactivity after pollen exposure indicated by enhanced allergen-specific IgE-levels and skin reactions to birch pollen. Still, all cultivars remained significantly less allergenic than GD and comparable to Santana in November 2018 in all assessments except for skin testing.CONCLUSIONS:
Combined expertise in pomology and allergology identified promising new cultivars for allergic consumers. The evaluation of hypoallergenic apples should incorporate long-term storage and birch pollen exposure. Basophil activation tests may be suitable in the selection of promising cultivars for oral challenges.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
Language:
En
Journal:
Clin Transl Allergy
Year:
2022
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: