Quantification of Que ac 1 and Standardization of Pollen Extract from Sawtooth Oak, the Most Important Cause of Spring Pollinosis in Korea
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Jeong K
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8569029 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Japanese cedar pollinosis is a type I allergic disease and has already become a major public health problem in Japan. Conventional subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) cannot meet patients' needs owing to the side effects caused by both the use of conventional whole antigen molecules in the pollen extract and the administration routes. To address these issues, a surface-modified antigen and transcutaneous administration route are introduced in this research. First, the pollen extract (PE) was conjugated to galactomannan (PE-GM) to mask immunoglobulin E (IgE)-binding epitopes in the PE to avoid side effects. Second, as a safer alternative to SCIT and SLIT, transcutaneous immunotherapy (TCIT) with a solid-in-oil (S/O) nanodispersion system carrying PE-GM was proposed. Hydrophilic PE-GM was efficiently delivered through mouse skin using S/O nanodispersions, reducing the antibody secretion and modifying the type 1 T helper (Th1)/ type 2 T helper (Th2) balance in the mouse model, thereby demonstrating the potential to alleviate Japanese cedar pollinosis.
| S-EPMC6920820 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectiveThe component allergens from sawtooth oak, which is a main cause of tree pollinosis in Korea, have not been extensively characterized except Que ac 1. This study was undertaken to characterize the allergenic components from sawtooth oak pollen and investigate the diagnostic values of each component allergen.MethodsTranscriptomic analysis was performed to identify the birch pollen allergen homologues from sawtooth oak pollen. Recombinant Que ac 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8 were produced in an E. coli expression system. IgE reactivity to each allergen was examined by ImmunoCAP and ELISA using the sera of 50 Korean tree pollinosis patients.ResultsSix birch pollen allergen homologues were identified using transcriptome analysis, as follows: Que ac 1 (54.8% identity to Bet v 1), Que ac 2 (79.7% to Bet v 2), Que ac 3 (24.9% to Bet v 3), 6 (71.3% to Bet v 6), Que ac 7 (80.9% to Bet v 7), and Que ac 8 (78.9% to Bet v 8). Que ac 1 sIgE was the most frequently recognized (84.0%), followed by Que ac 2 (12.0%), Que ac 3 (6.0%), and three other allergens (2.0% each). Que ac 1 was a dominant allergen affecting 83.7% of patients suffering from allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and 92.9% of pollen food allergy syndrome patients.ConclusionFive novel IgE reactive components of sawtooth oak were characterized using transcriptome analysis. Que ac 1 is the single most important component allergen of sawtooth oak pollen.
| S-EPMC8274986 | biostudies-literature
Project description:PurposePollen-food allergy syndrome (PFAS) is an immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergy in pollinosis patients caused by raw fruits and vegetables and is the most common food allergy in adults. However, there has been no nationwide study on PFAS in Korea. In this study, we investigated the prevalence and clinical characteristics of PFAS in Korea.MethodsTwenty-two investigators participated in this study, in which patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and/or bronchial asthma with pollen allergy were enrolled. The questionnaires included demographic characteristics, a list of fruits and vegetables, and clinical manifestations of food allergy. Pollen allergy was diagnosed by skin prick test and/or measurement of the serum level of specific IgE.ResultsA total of 648 pollinosis patients were enrolled. The prevalence of PFAS was 41.7% (n = 270). PFAS patients exhibited cutaneous (43.0%), respiratory (20.0%), cardiovascular (3.7%) or neurologic symptoms (4.8%) in addition to oropharyngeal symptoms. Anaphylaxis was noted in 8.9% of the PFAS patients. Seventy types of foods were linked to PFAS; e.g., peach (48.5%), apple (46.7%), kiwi (30.4%), peanut (17.4%), plum (16.3%), chestnut (14.8%), pineapple (13.7%), walnut (14.1%), Korean melon (12.6%), tomato (11.9%), melon (11.5%) and apricot (10.7%). Korean foods such as taro/taro stem (8.9%), ginseong (8.2%), perilla leaf (4.4%), bellflower root (4.4%), crown daisy (3.0%), deodeok (3.3%), kudzu root (3.0%) and lotus root (2.6%) were also linked to PFAS.ConclusionsThis was the first nationwide study of PFAS in Korea. The prevalence of PFAS was 41.7%, and 8.9% of the PFAS patients had anaphylaxis. These results will provide clinically useful information to physicians.
| S-EPMC6182195 | biostudies-literature
Project description:An electrostatic-barrier-forming window (EBW) was devised to capture airborne pollen, which can cause allergic pollinosis. The EBW consisted of three layers of insulated conductor wires (ICWs) and two voltage generators that supplied negative charges to the two outer ICW layers and a positive charge to the middle ICW layer. The ICWs generated an attractive force that captured pollen of the Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria japonica, from air blown through the EBW. The attractive force was directly proportional to the applied voltage. At ?3.5 kV, the EBW exerted sufficient force to capture all pollen carried at an air flow of 3 m/s, and pollen-free air passed through the EBW. The findings demonstrated that the electrostatic barrier that formed inside the EBW was very effective at capturing airborne pollen; thus, it could allow a home to remain pollen-free and healthy despite continuous pollen exposure.
| S-EPMC5295333 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The changes in reproductive phenology (i.e. timing of flowering and fruiting) observed in recent decades demonstrate that tree reproduction has already been altered by climate change. However, understanding the impact of these changes in reproductive success and fitness remains a major challenge for ecologists. We describe here a previously unreported phenomenon: a significant increase in the reproductive effort (seed production) of temperate oaks with increasing spring temperature, observed over the last decade. In contrast, no relationship was found between seed production and precipitation. This sensitivity of seed production to temperature was confirmed by a "space-for-time" substitution based on elevation gradients. Our findings suggest that global warming may enhance oak reproductive effort in temperate ecosystems. Nevertheless, while fitness can be enhanced by higher levels of seed production, it also depends on the frequency and synchronization of mast seeding production, which may also be influenced by climate change.
| S-EPMC5561138 | biostudies-literature
Project description:This work investigates the similarities and differences of oak honeydew (Quercus pyrenaica Willd.) and evergreen honeydew (Quercus ilex L.) honey produced in Spain. For this purpose, the physicochemical characteristics of 17 samples from oak honeydew and 11 samples from evergreen honeydew collected in different geographical regions were analyzed. All the samples accomplished European Union requirements for honey consumption. Both honey types had amber dark color; however, the evergreen oak honey was clearer than oak honey, having higher mean values in a* and b* coordinates of CIELab scale. In general, both honey types exhibited high electrical conductivity, a moderate value of pH, medium to low water content, and high diastase activity. The reducing sugar content was significantly lower and maltose content was significantly higher in evergreen honeydew. In addition, total phenols and total flavonoid contents, the antioxidant activity and the melissopalynological analysis was performed. The oak honeydew honey had a higher abundance of Castanea, Rubus and Erica pollen grains, while the evergreen oak honeydew honey had a higher abundance of Lavandula, Olea europaea or Anthyllis cytisoides. A multivariate analysis using the most representative pollen types and physicochemical components facilitated the differentiation of the honey samples, thus this information can be useful for the honey characterization.
| S-EPMC6518035 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Background:Red oak pollen is an important cause of allergic respiratory disease and it is widely distributed in North America and central Europe. To date, however, red oak pollen allergens have not been identified. Here, we describe the allergenic protein profile from red oak pollen. Methods:Total proteins were extracted from red oak pollen using a modified phenolic extraction method, and, subsequently, proteins were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) for both total protein stain (Coomassie Blue) and immunoblotting. A pool of 8 sera from red oak sensitive patients was used to analyze blotted proteins. Protein spots were analyzed by Mass Spectrometry. Results:Electrophoretic pattern of total soluble proteins showed higher intensity bands in the regions of 26-40 and 47-52 kDa. Two dimensional immunoblots using pool sera from patients revealed four allergenic proteins spots with molecular masses in the range from 50 to 55 kDa. Mass spectrometry analysis identified 8 proteins including Enolase 1 and Enolase 1 chloroplastic, Xylose isomerase (X1 isoform), mitochondrial Aldehyde dehydrogenase, UTP-Glusose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase, Betaxylosidase/alpha-l-arabinofuranosidase and alpha- and beta subunits of ATP synthase. Conclusions:This study has identified for first time 8 IgE binding proteins from red oak pollen. These findings will pave the way towards the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for red oak allergy.
| S-EPMC7082215 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Allergy diagnosis and immunotherapy in Korea rely mostly on imported allergen extracts. However, some allergens that are not important in Western countries are not commercially available, and even the same species of allergen source often displays differences in allergenicity due to amino acid sequence polymorphisms. Therefore, it is essential to prepare allergen extracts that reflect regional characteristics. Allergen standardization has been performed since 2009 with the support of the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Here, we summarize the current status of allergen standardization, focusing on the house dust mite and cockroach. Pollen allergens that are under investigation are also briefly described.
| S-EPMC4021236 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Gene flow is a key factor in the evolution of species, influencing effective population size, hybridisation and local adaptation. We analysed local gene flow in eight stands of white oak (mostly Quercus petraea and Q. robur, but also Q. pubescens and Q. faginea) distributed across Europe. Adult trees within a given area in each stand were exhaustively sampled (range [239, 754], mean 423), mapped, and acorns were collected ([17,147], 51) from several mother trees ([3], [47], 23). Seedlings ([65,387], 178) were harvested and geo-referenced in six of the eight stands. Genetic information was obtained from screening distinct molecular markers spread across the genome, genotyping each tree, acorn or seedling. All samples were thus genotyped at 5-8 nuclear microsatellite loci. Fathers/parents were assigned to acorns and seedlings using likelihood methods. Mating success of male and female parents, pollen and seed dispersal curves, and also hybridisation rates were estimated in each stand and compared on a continental scale. On average, the percentage of the wind-borne pollen from outside the stand was 60%, with large variation among stands (21-88%). Mean seed immigration into the stand was 40%, a high value for oaks that are generally considered to have limited seed dispersal. However, this estimate varied greatly among stands (20-66%). Gene flow was mostly intraspecific, with large variation, as some trees and stands showed particularly high rates of hybridisation. Our results show that mating success was unevenly distributed among trees. The high levels of gene flow suggest that geographically remote oak stands are unlikely to be genetically isolated, questioning the static definition of gene reserves and seed stands.
| S-EPMC3890301 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Quercus cortex (Oak bark) has been used in European folk medicine since medieval times for treatment of diarrhea, stomatitis, pharyngitis and skin inflammations. Its antimicrobial activity is a well-known therapeutic property of oak bark, and its novel anti-quorum sensing (QS) ability has also been described recently. In this study, we examined the bioactive compounds of Quercus cortex extract and compared their direct antibacterial and regulatory anti-QS effects against Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 in a biotest. Evaluation of the original Quercus cortex extract showed weak antibacterial and prominent anti-QS activities that were retained and completely restored when the samples were dried and re-hydrated. The one-step liquid chromatography result indicated that the anti-QS activity might be determined by hydrophobic compounds; however, the subsequent reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography led to dissipation and loss of the activity. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry gave excellent resolution between a majority of the compounds. Based on this result, 10 of the 35 identified small molecules were selected for further screening. The subsequent investigation indicated several compounds determined both the antibacterial and anti-QS activities of the Quercus cortex extract. Direct antibacterial activity was shown for 1,2,3-benzenetriol and 4-propyl-1,3-benzenediol, while sub-inhibitory concentrations of these compounds led to anti-QS effects. Five compounds: 4-(3-hydroxy-1-propenyl)-2-methoxy-phenol; 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenol; 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde; 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one and 2H-1-benzopyran-2-one were characterized as QS inhibitors independent of any effect on bacterial growth. Biologically relevant concentrations of each single component showed weak activity only while reconstruction of the small molecule composition derived from the Quercus cortex extract provided comparable complementary activity against C. violaceum CV026 in the biotest as the crude extract.
| S-EPMC6332234 | biostudies-literature