Allergic and Anaphylactic Response to Sesame Seeds in Mice: Identification of Ses i 3 and Basic Subunit of 11s Globulins as Allergens

Vol. 140, No. 3, 2006

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Original Paper

Allergic and Anaphylactic Response to Sesame Seeds in Mice: Identification of Ses i 3 and Basic Subunit of 11s Globulins as Allergens
Lalitha Navuluri^a, Sitaram Parvataneni^a, Hanem Hassan^a, Neil P. Birmingham^a, Caleb Kelly^a, Venu Gangur^{a, b}

^aFood Allergy and Immunology Laboratory, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Nutritional Immunology Program and
^bNational Food Safety and Toxicology Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., USA

Address of Corresponding Author

Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2006;140:270-276 (DOI: 10.1159/000093284)

Key Words

Sesame
Food allergy
Cytokines, type 2
IgE

Abstract

Background: Allergy to sesame seeds is an emerging food allergy of a serious nature due to a high risk of systemic anaphylaxis. Although a mouse model to study sesame anaphylaxis is desirable, currently it is not available. Here, using a transdermal exposure model system, we tested the hypothesis that sesame seed elicits IL-4-associated IgE antibody response with consequent clinical sensitization in mice. Methods: Groups of BALB/c mice were exposed to sesame seed extract or saline or a control food (vanilla bean extract) by transdermal applications. Systemic IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a antibody responses were examined using preoptimized ELISA. Type 2 and type 1 cytokine responses were evaluated by ex vivo antigen-mediated activation of spleen cells. Clinical response to oral sesame challenge was studied. Western blot and N-terminal amino acid sequence analyses were performed to identify the sesame allergens. Results: Transdermal exposure to sesame elicited robust IgE and IgG1 but very little IgG2a antibody responses. IgE response to transdermal exposure in two high-IgE responder mice strains with disparate MHC confirmed the intrinsic allergenicity of sesame seed. Transdermal sensitization was associated with activation of IL-4 but not IFN- gamma . Furthermore, oral exposure to sesame resulted in clinical signs of systemic anaphylaxis. Western blot and sequence analysis identified four allergens including Ses i 3 and the basic subunit of 11s globulins. Conclusion: These data argue that transdermal exposure to sesame seed can result in IL-4 activation, IgE response and clinical sensitization for systemic anaphylaxis.

Author Contacts

Correspondence to: Dr. V. Gangur
302-B, GM Trout Building, Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824 (USA)
Tel. +1 517 355 8474, ext. 134, Fax +1 517 353 8963
E-Mail gangur@msu.edu

Article Information

L. Navuluri and S. Parvataneni contributed equally to this work.

Received: September 2, 2005
Accepted after revision: February 7, 2006
Published online: May 11, 2006
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 6, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 27

Medline Abstract (ID 16699288)

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