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Original Article
 

Age-Dependent Sensitization to the 7S-Vicilin-Like Protein Cor a 11 From Hazelnut (Corylus avellana) in a Birch-Endemic Region
 

MM Verweij,1 MM Hagendorens,1,2 S Trashin,3,4 T Cucu,3,4 B De Meulenaer,3,4
B. Devreese,4 CH Bridts,1 LS De Clerck,1,2 DG Ebo1

1Faculty of Medicine, Department of Immunology – Allergology - Rheumatology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
2Department of Paediatrics, University of Antwerp Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
3NutriFOODchem Unit, Department of Food Safety and Food Quality, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
4Laboratory for Protein Biochemistry and Biomolecular Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2012; Vol. 22(4): 245-251
 

 Abstract


Background: Hazelnut (Corylus avellana) allergy exhibits age and geographically distinct sensitization patterns that have not yet been fully resolved. Objective: To study sensitization to Cor a 11 in different age groups of hazelnut-allergic patients and infants with atopic dermatitis (AD) sensitized to hazelnut in a birch-endemic region.

Methods: Sera from 80 hazelnut-allergic patients, 33 infants under 1 year of age with AD (24 sensitized and 9 not sensitized to hazelnut), 32 healthy control individuals, and 29 birch pollen–allergic but hazelnut-tolerant individuals were tested for immunoglobulin (Ig) E reactivity to Cor a 11 by ImmunoCAP. IgE reactivity to Cor a 1.01, Cor a 1.04, Cor a 8, and Cor a 9 was studied by ISAC microarray.

Results: Forty patients (22 preschool children, 10 schoolchildren, and 8 adults) with systemic reactions on consumption of hazelnut were sensitized to Cor a 11 (respective rates of 36%, 40%, and 12.5%). Forty patients (6 preschool children, 10 schoolchildren, and 24 adults) reported oral allergy syndrome but only 2 of them (of preschool age) were sensitized to Cor a 11.
Two (8%) of the AD infants sensitized to hazelnut showed IgE reactivity to Cor a 11. This reactivity was not observed in any of the AD infants without sensitization to hazelnut, in any of the birch-pollen allergic patients without hazelnut allergy, or in any of the healthy control individuals.

Conclusions: Sensitization to Cor a 11 in a birch-endemic region is predominantly found in children with severe hazelnut allergy, a fi nding that is consistent with observations concerning sensitization to Cor a 9.

Key words: Basophil activation. Birch. Cor a 11. Component-resolved diagnosis. Hazelnut. IgE.