Abstract
Background: The clinical relevance of immunoglobulin E (IgE) to plant glycans is a longstanding debate. We sought to evaluate their clinical reactivity using the human glycoprotein lactoferrin expressed in rice. Methods: Allergic patients with IgE antibodies against plant glycans were analyzed for the presence of IgE against rice-produced lactoferrin. The potency of IgE to induce mediator release was assessed by basophil histamine release and skin prick tests (SPTs). Clinical relevance was evaluated by double-blind placebo-controlled oral challenge (DBPCOC). Results: Twenty-four of 29 sera (82.7%) with IgE antibodies against plant glycans demonstrated IgE binding to transgenic lactoferrin. In three of five cases transgenic lactoferrin induced histamine release. Compared to a control major grass pollen allergen lactoferrin concentrations needed for biological activity of IgE were 5-6 orders of magnitude higher. Skin prick test and DBPCOC were negative in five patients with potential clinical reactivity that volunteered to undergo these in vivo challenges. Conclusions: Poor or no biological activity and lack of clinical relevance of IgE-binding plant glycans (five out of five) was demonstrated using human lactoferrin expressed in rice as a model.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 891-896 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Allergy: European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology |
Volume | 63 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jul 2008 |
Keywords
- Basophil histamine release
- Cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCD)
- Double-blind placebo-controlled oral challenge
- IgE
- Plant glycoproteins
- Transgenic plants
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology