Publications (12)47.12 Total impact
-
Article: Measurement of Ara h 1-, 2-, and 3-specific IgE antibodies is useful in diagnosis of peanut allergy in Japanese children.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Food challenges are time-consuming, expensive, and not always possible to perform. Therefore, new tools to diagnose food allergy are desired. The aim was to evaluate IgE antibodies to peanut allergens in the diagnosis of peanut allergy in Japanese children using ImmunoCAP(®) and IgE immunoblotting. The study included 2-13-yr-old consecutive patients (n = 57) referred to our specialist clinic for investigation of current peanut allergy using food challenge. All children had a previous doctor's diagnosis of peanut allergy and were on elimination diet. Serum samples were analyzed for IgE reactivity to peanut, recombinant (r) Ara h 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and 9. IgE immunoblotting (n = 23) was performed using extracts from raw and roasted peanut. Twenty-six of the children failed (allergic group), and 31 passed the peanut challenge (tolerant group). The rAra h 2 ImmunoCAP test was superior in its ability to differentiate between children in the allergic and tolerant groups with a sensitivity and specificity of 88% and 84%, respectively (cutoff, 0.35 kU(A)/l). The combination of rAra h 1, 2, and 3 resulted in a higher specificity (94%) when IgE to all of them was the criteria for positivity. ImmunoCAP generally showed a good agreement with immunoblotting using both raw and roasted peanut for IgE reactivity to Ara h 1, 2, and 3. Measurement of IgE antibodies to rAra h 1, 2, and 3 is useful in the diagnosis of peanut allergy and in the investigation of reactions to raw and roasted peanut.Pediatric Allergy and Immunology 07/2012; 23(6):573-81. · 2.46 Impact Factor -
Article: The usefulness of casein-specific IgE and IgG4 antibodies in cow's milk allergic children.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Cow's milk allergy is one of the most common food allergies among younger children. We investigated IgE antibodies to milk, and IgE and IgG4 antibodies to casein, α-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin in cow's milk allergic (CMA) and non-allergic (non-CMA) children in order to study their clinical usefulness. Eighty-three children with suspected milk allergy (median age: 3.5 years, range: 0.8-15.8 years) were diagnosed as CMA (n = 61) or non-CMA (n = 22) based on an open milk challenge or convincing clinical history. Their serum concentrations of allergen-specific (s) IgE and IgG4 antibodies were measured using ImmunoCAP®. For the sIgG4 analysis, 28 atopic and 31 non-atopic control children were additionally included (all non-milk sensitized). The CMA group had significantly higher levels of milk-, casein- and β-lactoglobulin-sIgE antibodies as compared to the non-CMA group. The casein test showed the best discriminating performance with a clinical decision point of 6.6 kUA/L corresponding to 100% specificity. All but one of the CMA children aged > 5 years had casein-sIgE levels > 6.6 kUA/L. The non-CMA group had significantly higher sIgG4 levels against all three milk allergens compared to the CMA group. This was most pronounced for casein-sIgG4 in non-CMA children without history of previous milk allergy. These children had significantly higher casein-sIgG4 levels compared to any other group, including the non-milk sensitized control children. High levels of casein-sIgE antibodies are strongly associated with milk allergy in children and might be associated with prolonged allergy. Elevated casein-sIgG4 levels in milk-sensitized individuals on normal diet indicate a modified Th2 response. However, the protective role of IgG4 antibodies in milk allergy is unclear.Clinical and Molecular Allergy 01/2012; 10(1):1. · 1.39 Impact Factor -
Article: Evaluation of IgE antibodies to recombinant peanut allergens in patients with reported reactions to peanut.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Peanut may cause severe reactions in allergic individuals. The objective was to evaluate IgE antibodies to various recombinant (r) peanut and birch pollen allergens in relation to IgE levels to whole peanut extract and severe allergic reactions to peanut. Seventy-four Swedish peanut-allergic patients (age: 14-61 years) reported previous peanut exposure and associated symptoms using a questionnaire. Their IgE reactivity to peanut, birch pollen and individual allergen components was analyzed using ImmunoCAP. Of the 48 subjects sensitized to Ara h 1, 2 or 3, 60% had peanut-specific IgE levels >15 kU(A)/l, while 100% of the subjects without detectable IgE to these allergens had low peanut-specific IgE levels (<10 kU(A)/l). The levels of IgE to rAra h 8, rBet v 1 and birch pollen were highly correlated (r(S) = 0.94, p < 0.0001). Fifty-eight patients reported adverse reactions after accidental or deliberate peanut exposure (oral, inhalation or skin) of whom 41 had IgE to rAra h 1, 2 or 3. Symptoms of respiratory distress were associated with sensitization to Ara h 1, 2 or 3 (56 vs. 18%, p < 0.01). Two cases of anaphylaxis were reported among the individuals sensitized to Ara h 1-3. IgE to rAra h 8, rAra h 9, profilin or cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants were not associated with severe symptoms. The results indicate that IgE reactivity to Ara h 1, 2 and 3 is associated with severe reactions after exposure to peanut in Swedish patients.International Archives of Allergy and Immunology 06/2011; 156(3):282-90. · 2.40 Impact Factor -
Article: IgE to Gly m 5 and Gly m 6 is associated with severe allergic reactions to soybean in Japanese children.
The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 05/2011; 128(3):673-5. · 9.17 Impact Factor -
Article: Mugwort-sensitized individuals from North Europe, South Europe and North America show different IgE reactivity patterns.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Sensitization to weed pollen allergens at the molecular level is not fully understood. We studied IgE reactivity to the major mugwort allergen Art v 1 in relation to allergens from other weed pollen and cross-reactive components in mugwort-sensitized subjects. Art v 1 and Amb a 1 were affinity purified and coupled to experimental ImmunoCAP® tests. Samples from North Europe (n = 50), South Europe (n = 19) and North America (n = 41) were analyzed for IgE against mugwort pollen, weed allergen components, pan-allergens and cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCDs). The prevalence of IgE reactivity (>0.35 kU(A)/l) to Art v 1 was significantly higher in samples from North Europe than in those from North America. IgE to Amb a 1 was more common in North America than in North and South Europe, while IgE to Par j 2 was common in South Europe, less common in North America, and absent in North Europe. IgE to Art v 3 in mugwort-allergic patients was more common in North Europe than in South Europe and North America, while IgE to Sal k 1 was similar between the areas. Subjects with an Art v 1/mugwort-specific IgE ratio <0.5 had more often IgE to Amb a 1, profilin, polcalcin and CCDs than subjects with a ratio >0.5. Mugwort-sensitized subjects have different IgE reactivity profiles to weed allergens, reflecting their exposure to various pollens. Subjects with a low ratio between the IgE levels to Art v 1 and mugwort have a diverse IgE reactivity profile, indicating a role for cross-reactive allergens in their mugwort sensitization.International Archives of Allergy and Immunology 01/2011; 154(2):164-72. · 2.40 Impact Factor -
Article: Affinity purification of egg-white allergens for improved component-resolved diagnostics.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Egg is a common cause of food-allergic reactions, especially among young children. Some egg-allergic patients do, however, tolerate heated egg products and component-resolved diagnostics (CRD) may facilitate prediction of different disease manifestations. Commercially available preparations of the egg-white allergens, ovomucoid, ovalbumin, conalbumin and lysozyme, have been reported to contain impurities which interfere with accurate CRD. Commercial preparations of the 4 egg-white allergens were characterized using allergen-specific monoclonal chimeric human/mouse IgE antibodies in experimental ImmunoCAP® tests. Further purification of commercial ovomucoid, ovalbumin and conalbumin preparations was performed by chromatography based on affinity to monoclonal antibodies. Purity was monitored by size exclusion chromatography, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting and experimental ImmunoCAP tests using allergen-specific chimeric IgE antibodies. IgE reactivity to the highly purified egg components was analyzed in 83 samples from egg white-sensitized individuals. Preparations of commercially available ovomucoid, ovalbumin and conalbumin were found to contain other egg allergens which were removed by chromatographic purification. No impurities were detected in the commercial lysozyme preparation. Previously unknown complexes between the target allergens and contaminating allergens were detected and removed by affinity chromatography. IgE reactivity to ovalbumin was most common in the analyzed samples (87%), followed by ovomucoid (72%), conalbumin (69%) and lysozyme (58%). In this study we demonstrate the advantage of using monoclonal antibodies for purification, and monoclonal chimeric IgE antibodies for characterization, of egg allergens intended for CRD. Our study also established that ovalbumin, ovomucoid, conalbumin and lysozyme are all major allergens.International Archives of Allergy and Immunology 01/2011; 154(1):33-41. · 2.40 Impact Factor -
Article: Utility of ovomucoid-specific IgE concentrations in predicting symptomatic egg allergy.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Children with allergy to raw egg white might tolerate low amounts of heated egg. Ovomucoid-specific IgE antibodies have been suggested to be predictors of whether children could tolerate heat-treated egg. The aim was to evaluate the clinical usefulness and added diagnostic value of measurements of IgE antibodies to egg white, ovalbumin, and ovomucoid in children with egg allergy. One hundred eight patients (median age, 34.5 months) with suspected egg allergy underwent double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges with raw and heated egg. The outcomes of the challenges were related to the serum concentration of specific IgE antibodies and total IgE by using ImmunoCAP. Reactions to heated egg white were observed in 38 patients (considered allergic to raw and heated egg), 29 patients reacted to only raw egg white, and 41 patients were tolerant. Correlation was observed between the serologic parameters studied. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that egg white ImmunoCAP was useful in the diagnosis of allergy to raw egg white. The positive decision point, based on 95% clinical specificity, was 7.4 kU(A)/L, and the negative decision point, based on 95% clinical sensitivity, was 0.6 kU(A)/L. For reaction to heated egg white, ovomucoid ImmunoCAP was superior. The positive decision point was 10.8 kU(A)/L, and the negative decision point was 1.2 kU(A)/L. Quantitative measurements of specific IgE antibodies to both egg white and ovomucoid and the evaluation against the suggested positive and negative decision points for specific IgE will be useful in the diagnosis of egg allergy.The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 10/2008; 122(3):583-8. · 9.17 Impact Factor -
Article: Purification and characterization of the major oak pollen allergen Que a 1 for component-resolved diagnostics using ImmunoCAP.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to purify the major oak pollen allergen, Que a 1, to perform biochemical and immunological characterization of the allergen and to develop an experimental native (n) Que a 1 ImmunoCAP(R). Que a 1 was purified from oak pollen extract using affinity chromatography and characterized by SDS-PAGE, two-dimensional (2D) PAGE, mass spectrometry (MS), N-terminal sequencing and specific IgE inhibition on ImmunoCAP. Samples from 16 subjects sensitized to oak pollen were analyzed by ImmunoCAP for IgE reactivity to nQue a 1, and recombinant (r)Bet v 1 and 2 (profilin). They were also studied in IgE immunoblotting. The purity of nQue a 1 was >95%, since a single band was observed on silver-stained SDS-PAGE. The identity was verified by MS analysis, and 2D-PAGE revealed several isoforms. The obtained N-terminal sequence of 50-amino-acid residues from nQue a 1 showed a 58-74% sequence identity with other pathogenesis-related class 10 allergens. Specific IgE inhibition verified a preserved immunoreactivity (70-92% inhibition). All subjects were sensitized to Que a 1 and Bet v 1, and two to profilin. The IgE antibody levels to nQue a 1 were generally lower than to rBet v 1. The obtained results correlated well with IgE immunoblotting. We present a highly purified and extensively characterized preparation of nQue a 1. Que a 1 seems to be an allergen of equal importance in oak pollen as Bet v 1 in birch pollen. An nQue a 1 ImmunoCAP will be useful in component-resolved diagnostics.International Archives of Allergy and Immunology 01/2008; 146(3):203-11. · 2.40 Impact Factor -
Article: IgE reactivity pattern to timothy and birch pollen allergens in Finnish and Russian Karelia.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Little is known about differences in IgE reactivity patterns to individual allergens in random populations. We studied the IgE reactivity profile to individual recombinant (r) and native (n) allergens in sera from subjects sensitized to timothy and/or birch pollen living in Finnish and Russian Karelia. Sera from IgE-sensitized adults were obtained from an epidemiological study on a random sample of 1,177 subjects. The IgE reactivity to pollen extracts and eight timothy (rPhl p 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12 and nPhl p 4) and three birch pollen allergens (rBet v 1, 2 and 4) were analyzed with UniCAP. The levels of IgE antibodies to timothy and birch pollen were higher in Finnish (median 5.2, range 0.35 to >100 kUA/l,) than in Russian Karelia (median 1.8 kUA/l, range 0.43-25.2 kUA/l, p <0.01). There was a significantly higher prevalence of IgE reactivity to three timothy pollen allergens in Finnish (n=57) than in Russian Karelia (n=12): rPhl p 2, 28 vs. 0%; rPhl p 5, 60 vs. 0%; rPhl p 6, 47 vs. 0%. The prevalence of IgE reactivity to the birch pollen allergens was similar in the two populations. IgE reactivity to rPhl p 2, 5, 6 and 11 was associated with hay fever symptoms. The timothy-pollen-specific serum IgE levels and the numbers of IgE reactivities to individual allergens correlated significantly (rs=0.87, p <0.0001). The data indicate that timothy- and birch pollen-specific IgE levels are higher in Finnish compared to Russian Karelia. This is reflected in wider IgE reactivity to individual timothy pollen allergens in Finnish Karelia, including the major allergen Phl p 5, and increased pollen allergy.International Archives of Allergy and Immunology 01/2005; 136(1):33-8. · 2.40 Impact Factor -
Article: Immunological mechanisms of specific immunotherapy with pollen vaccines: implications for diagnostics and the development of improved vaccination strategies.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: This review deals with specific immunotherapy performed with pollen vaccines. Pollen allergens, the immunological mechanism of allergic inflammation and the mechanisms behind successful specific immunotherapy treatment of seasonal pollen allergy shall be discussed. The different approaches to develop improved regimes for specific immunotherapy based on new diagnostic tools, improved pollen vaccines and alternative routes for administration of the vaccines will be highlighted. Diagnostic tools to select patients for specific immunotherapy and for monitoring the treatment are quantitative measurements of allergen-specific immunoglobulin E, G and G4 antibodies and component-resolved diagnostics based on immunoglobulin E binding to individual allergenic components. Future pollen vaccines may consist of hypoallergenic recombinant allergens and T-helper cell type 1-inducing immunostimulatory adjuvants. Both sublingual and nasal administration of pollen vaccines for specific immunotherapy may be used more in future.Expert Review of Vaccines 03/2003; 2(1):85-97. · 4.25 Impact Factor -
Article: Different IgE reactivity profiles in birch pollen-sensitive patients from six European populations revealed by recombinant allergens: an imprint of local sensitization.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Sensitivity to birch pollen allergens is a common feature among European patients with seasonal pollen allergy. In this in vitro study, we examined the specific serum IgE binding profiles to individual birch pollen allergens in birch-sensitive patients from six European populations. The study included 242 patients from Finland, Sweden, Austria, France, Switzerland and Italy. All suffered from seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis and/or asthma. Their sera were analyzed for specific IgE reactivity to individual birch pollen allergens (recombinant Bet v 1, Bet v 2 and Bet v 4) and natural birch pollen extract using Pharmacia CAP System and immunoblotting. Almost all Finnish, Swedish and Austrian sera contained IgE specific for Bet v 1 (>or=98%). Bet v 1-specific IgE antibodies were found in 90% of the French sera, and in 65 and 62% of the sera from Switzerland and Italy, respectively. Few Finnish (2%) and Swedish (12%) patients had IgE to Bet v 2, while Bet v 2 reactivity was more common in the other populations (20-43%). Reactivity to Bet v 4 was rare in all populations (5-11%) except for the Italian patients, in whom 3 of 11 sera were positive (27%). The immunoblot results supported the specific IgE profiles obtained with Pharmacia CAP System showing a broader IgE reactivity profile in patients from central and southern Europe as compared to northern Europe. Component-resolved allergy diagnosis with recombinant allergens reveals that the IgE reactivity profiles to individual birch pollen allergens vary between European populations. This observation may be explained by sensitization to different allergen sources and will have an impact on allergen-specific prevention and therapy strategies.International Archives of Allergy and Immunology 09/2002; 128(4):325-35. · 2.40 Impact Factor -
Article: Development of new IgE specificities to allergenic components in birch pollen extract during specific immunotherapy studied with immunoblotting and Pharmacia CAP System.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: New IgE sensitizations to proteins in allergen extracts have been shown to occur during allergen-specific immunotherapy (IT). However little is known about the kinetics of the changes in antibody reactivities. Twenty-four allergic children and adults were treated with birch pollen rush IT (RIT). Fifteen matched patients served as allergic controls. Sera were obtained at regular intervals for up to three years and analyzed with immunoblotting and Pharmacia CAP System with recombinant (r) birch pollen allergens (rBet v 1, rBet v 2, and rBet v 4). All birch-allergic patients had specific IgE to the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1, but only three had IgE to rBet v 2 and/or rBet v 4 at the beginning of the study. New IgE sensitizations developed in 65% of the birch RIT-treated patients when studied by immunoblotting. Twenty-nine percent of the patients developed new sensitizations to rBet v 2 and/or rBet v 4 during RIT as measured by Pharmacia CAP System. Generally, new specific IgE reactivities occurred after at least one year of RIT, and only at low levels (< 1 kUA/l). Sensitization to additional allergenic pollen components frequently occurs during prolonged birch RIT. However, the IgE levels are low and the clinical relevance is not known.Allergy 05/2002; 57(5):423-30. · 6.27 Impact Factor
Top co-authors
Top Journals
Institutions
-
2002–2011
-
Uppsala University
- Department of Medical Sciences
Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden
-
