Latex-Fruit Syndrome and Class 2 Food Allergy

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In support of this assumption, the class I chitinase of avocado, chestnut, and banana, which belong to a family of pathogenesis-related proteins (PR-3), was revealed to be an important cross-reactive allergen for latex-sensitized people [5]. Class I chitinase of plants contains a hevein-like domain in common at the N-terminus (Fig. 1). Hevein (Hev b 6.02) is one of the most important latex allergens. Thus, the cross-reactivity of latex-allergic patients can be partly ascribed to the shared hevein-related structures (Fig. 1). The three-dimensional structure of hevein is shown in Fig. 2. The yellow portion indicates the linear IgE epitopes. This site closely overlaps the conserved residues indispensable to the chitin-binding property of hevein, which is the root of its anti-fungal activity. On the other hand, patatin has been identified as a major cross-reactive allergen in potato. Patatin is a defense-related protein with lipid acyl-hydrolase or esterase activity, and functions as an important storage protein in potato tuber. Latex allergens (Hev b 7) homologous to patatin have also been found in natural rubber and have been officially registered. As in the case of cross-reactivity between class I chitinase in vegetables and hevein, the structural similarity between patatin and Hev b 7 likely accounts for part of the cross-reactivity of latex-sensitized people. [5]

The establishment of latex-fruit syndrome is comparable with that of pollen-food allergy syndrome, where patients suffering from pollinosis also experience food allergies ranging from itching and pruritus around the oral cavity (oral allergy syndrome: OAS) to generalized urticaria and even anaphylaxis. In the pollen-food allergy syndrome, a patient is fist sensitized by inhaling antigens concomitant with pollen. Thereafter, immediate-type symptoms around the oral cavity (OAS) begin to be provoked when the patient eats any plant-derived foods containing proteins cross-reactive to the sensitizing antigen. According to our conventional understanding of a food allergy, sensitization is established by an abnormally stable food protein ingested per-orally. After the completion of per-oral sensitization, allergic symptoms can be provoked whenever the patient eats the same protein. In this traditional concept of a food allergy, a key point is that the same antigen plays a vital role both in the sensitization process and the symptom-elicitation process. It has long been believed that only special food proteins stable to heat treatments and resistant to digestive enzymes can become food allergens. This explanation seems to be based on the idea that only such a special protein can reach the intestine without being fragmented and thus establish per-oral sensitization. Recently, a food allergy following this traditional concept has been called "class 1 food allergy" (or type I food allergy). In addition, food proteins responsible for such food allergies are now being called "complete food allergens" or "class 1 food allergens"(Fig. 3, left) [7]. A complete food allergen is an antigen having the capacity for both per-oral sensitization and per-oral elicitation.

In latex-fruit syndrome and pollen-food allergy syndrome, however, distinct proteins play a vital role in the establishment of sensitization and the per-oral elicitation, respectively. A key point is the cross-reactivity of the two antigens, the sensitizer and elicitor (Fig. 3, right). Antigens in foods are only pertinent to the symptom-elicitation process and generally do not have features such as heat stability and resistance to digestive enzymes that are required to establish per-oral sensitization. It has recently been proposed that a food allergy based on the cross-reactivity between the sensitizing antigen and the symptom-eliciting antigen are called "class 2 food allergy" (or type II food allergy). In addition, food proteins responsible for such food allergies are being call "incomplete food allergens", "class 2 food allergens", or "non-sensitizing elicitors" (Fig. 3, right) [7]. An incomplete food allergen is an antigen having the capacity to elicit symptoms in already sensitized patients based on its cross-reactivity to the corresponding sensitizer. It does not have the capacity to sensitize people per-orally.

The manifestation of a class 2 food allergy is usually confined to allergic reactions around the oral cavity (namely oral allergy syndrome: OAS), likely due to the general instability of the incomplete food allergen. The empirically well-known high antigenicity of fresh fruits and vegetables compared to that of cooked or heat-treated vegetable foods can also be explained by the vulnerability of the incomplete food allergen. Although the latex-fruit syndrome is considered to be a class 2 food allergy, it must be remembered that generalized symptoms are sometimes provoked in addition to OAS. Cross-reactive food allergens relevant to this syndrome, class I chitinase, for example, are stable to some extent and can reach the intestine without complete fragmentation.

List of the Suspected Vegetables

List of the Suspected Tree and Weed Pollen

List of the Suspected Medical Plants

References

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