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Biomedical subjects

R Panzani

Publications and source records attributed to R Panzani.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Platanus pollen as an important cause of pollinosis.

OBJECTIVE: The existence of Platanus pollinosis is not generally accepted despite the production of very large quantities of airborne Platanus pollen in many cities of the United States and Europe. The aim of this study was to investigate if Platanus pollen really contributes to the symptoms of the patients with pollinosis in the Madrid area. METHODS: We carried out systematic skin prick testing with Platanus pollen extract on 47 patients seen in our allergy center with spring-summer pollinosis symptoms. Each patient maintained symptom score diaries before, during, and after the Platanus pollination season. The average symptom scores were calculated and compared with the Platanus pollen counts. Measurements of specific IgE by ELISA and immunoblotting also were performed in each patient. RESULTS: The Platanus skin tests were positive in 33 of the 39 patients first seen with seasonal symptoms during Platanus pollen season and only in three of the eight patients without symptoms during Platanus exposure (Fisher's exact test; p < 0.05). Twenty-two of the 33 Platanus-positive skin test patients also had a positive ELISA result. Furthermore, the average 24-hour rhinitis symptom scores of the 39 patients first seen with seasonal symptoms during March through April showed significant correlation with Platanus pollen counts (r(s) = 0.57, p < 0.05). The immunoblot results suggest that a 17 kd pollen protein could be a major allergen in patients with Platanus pollinosis. CONCLUSIONS: Platanus pollen is an important cause of pollinosis in Madrid. A protein with a molecular weight of 17 kd appeared to be its major allergen.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Epitopes on Cry j I and Cry j II for the human IgE antibodies cross-reactive between Cupressus sempervirens and Cryptomeria japonica pollen.

Forty sea from French patients allergic to Cupressus sempervirens pollen were tested for cross-reactivities against Cry j I, Cry j II (major allergens of Cryptomeria japonica pollen) and other pollen allergens from botanically related plants. Seventy-three per cent of the sera reacted with either Cry j I or Cry j II, or with both of them. These IgE cross-reactions were blocked effectively by mAb 046 (anti-Cry j I) or N26, T27 (anti-Cry j II), and weakly by mAbs 052, 027 and 026 (anti-Cry j I). Furthermore, the IgE antibodies in two sera, #40 and #11, bound to peptide fractions obtained from enzyme-digested Cry j I, and mAb 027 could also bind to the fractions. Analyses of the amino acid sequences of the peptides revealed that reactive peptides contained "NGNATPQLTKNAGVLTCSLSKR" sequence and the third residue N3 was glycosylated, however, when the N3 was not glycosylated, the IgE antibodies did not react, but mAb 027 could. The glycosylation of the N3 might be required for IgE-binding to the peptides. Sugar component on the N3 residue was found to be 0.4 mol galactose, 1.3 mol mannose, 0.8 mol fucose and 2.0 mol N-acetyl-glucosamine. Cross-reactivities against other pollen allergens from botanically related plants were found in most of the sera. However, many of these reactivities were detected by sandwich ELISA but not by an ELISA using allergen-coated plates, indicating that it is important to select an appropriate ELISA procedure in order to detect an allergen or an IgE antibody to an allergen.

Allergens↗
PubMed1991

Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) pollen allergens: identification by protein blotting and improved detection of specific IgE antibodies.

On the basis of results of an investigation of the effects of different treatments employed, a dialysed and reduced extract of Cupressus sempervirens was separated electrophoretically on sodium dodecylsulphate-polyacrylamide gels before being transferred and then fixed with glutaraldehyde to nitrocellulose membrane. Probing with sera from 91 subjects allergic to C. sempervirens pollen followed by detection of bound IgE antibodies with [125I]-labelled anti-human IgE revealed 17 IgE-binding proteins in the molecular weight range 14-96 kilodaltons (kDa). One component, of molecular weight approximately 42 kDa, reacted with IgE antibodies in the sera of 81.3% of the allergic subjects and, for each of the subjects, this component bound the greatest quantity of IgE. Almost 50% of the sera recognized only the approximately 42 kDa component, reinforcing the conclusion that this component is the major allergen of C. sempervirens pollen. A comparative study employing C. sempervirens pollen allergen discs prepared commercially or in the laboratory showed that values of the uptakes of [125I]-anti-IgE indicating the presence of pollen-reactive IgE antibodies obtained with the latter discs were consistently higher (means 4.5 vs. 0.88), and that false-negative results were obtained when many sera were used with the commercial discs. The results of this study provide an essential basis for the production of standardized, safe and effective C. sempervirens pollen extract applicable to diagnosis and therapy of cypress pollen allergy.

Allergens↗
PubMed1988

Allergy to castor bean. I. Its relationship to sensitization to common inhalant allergens (atopy).

The IgE response to castor bean (Ricinus communis) was studied in 96 castor bean-allergic patients from Marseilles, France. All had positive skin tests to castor bean. The IgE response to grass, cat, dust mite, olive, and Parietaria was also measured, and a positive RAST to one or more of these allergens was taken to indicate atopic status. Castor bean-specific IgE antibodies, measured by RAST, were found in 87 (91%) of the castor bean-allergic patients, in two of 13 atopic Marseilles residents living close to the castor bean mills, in three of 42 allergic subjects who had no known contact with castor bean, and in none of a control group of 111 Marseilles blood donors. Very high levels of castor bean-specific IgE (maximum class 4 readings on the Phadebas RAST score) were found in 54 (56%) of the castor bean-allergic patients, but the level of IgE antibody to castor bean was not significantly different in atopic and nonatopic subjects. The frequency of a positive serological test (RAST) for atopy in castor bean-allergic subjects (32%) was very similar to that found in the local population (36%). These data indicate that castor bean is an extremely potent sensitizer for both atopic and nonatopic individuals. The magnitude of the specific IgE antibody response is not related to the atopic status of the patient and may be a function of the physiochemical characteristics of the allergen itself.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Human castor bean allergy and HLA-A, B, C, DR.

Our results in 27 castor bean-allergic patients typed for HLA-A, B, C, DR antigens show (although the observed difference did not reach a statistical significance after correction for the number of tested specificities) an increase of A2 cross-reacting group antigens and, on the other hand, of HLA-A29, B39, CW2, B12, DR2, and especially DR5 (48.1% vs. 26.9% - chi 2 = 5.579; uncorrected p: 0.01 less than p less than 0.02), which possibly participate in haplotypic combinations. The facts that the markers of the haplotype segments involved are more frequent in northern European populations (e.g., A3,B7--Scandinavian; A29,B12--English) and that regional haplotypes are decreased (e.g., A11,B35) suggest that the allergics could in some geographical areas be less genetically adapted to their environment. In the same way, the fact that although the global number of assigned HLA antigens was increased, the percentage of only some alleles (among these those belonging to the A2-CREG) was increased suggests not only a recessive model but a diminution of the polymorphism in allergics. This is in agreement with the physiological role of the HLA system, the polymorphism of which, according to the numerous restriction phenomena allowed at the cellular level, represents broad possibilities of adapted immune response in man. In any event, these findings clearly suggest that HLA-DR5 and B39 may be the markers of castor bean allergy in the Mediterranean area, to which are superimposed the HLA alleles linked to the general atopic susceptibility.

Ricinus communis↗
PubMed1987

The relationship between total serum IgE and castor-bean-specific IgE antibodies in castor-bean-sensitive patients from Marseilles.

The relationship between serum IgE and castor bean (Ricinus communis)-specific IgE was studied in a group of dockworkers and other residents of Marseilles who were diagnosed as having castor bean allergy. The diagnosis was made because they had asthma or other allergic symptoms together with a positive skin test to castor bean. Total serum IgE was found to be higher in castor-bean-allergic patients (mean = 174 IU/ml) than in a control group of local blood donors (mean = 66 IU/ml). IgE levels were not as high as those found in the sera of a previously identified group of castor-bean-allergic dockworkers from Port Sudan (mean = 902 IU/ml). Castor-bean-specific IgE was demonstrated in the serum of 91% of the allergic group and there was some correlation with total IgE (r = 0.53, p less than 0.01). The proportion of IgE antibody specific for castor bean was determined in 20 castor-bean-sensitive patients using the radioallergosorbent test and was found to vary between 9 and 64% (mean = 38% or 265 ng/ml). No castor-bean-specific IgE antibody was detected in the control group.

Ricinus communis↗
PubMed1986

Results of skin test and RAST in allergy to a clinically potent allergen (castor bean).

In order to investigate once more the usefulness of the RAST procedure in the diagnosis of reaginic hypersensitivity, we studied a series of patients showing a well known sensitivity to castor bean, which is a potent antigen, and compared the results with those given by patients with no clinical allergy to this antigen as confirmed by negative skin testing. The latter group included patients with no contact, a remote contact or a close contact with castor bean. Castor bean allergy seems to be a good model in the testing of human reaginic hypersensitivity. We observed in the castor bean positive group of forty-one patients a 95% correlation between RAST positivity and skin test positivity with only two negative RAST scores, and in the castor bean negative group of ninety-four patients, a 97% correlation, with three RAST positive scores. For its specificity and its good sensibility (although lesser than skin testing), RAST can thus be recommended as a diagnostic tool as a complement to skin testing. Moreover, for potent allergens, RAST offers a risk-free diagnostic alternative.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Increase of respiratory allergy to the pollens of cypresses in the south of France.

A form of pollen allergy, which is uncommon in most parts of the world and in other Mediterranean countries where cypresses are abundant (Italy, Spain, Greece), with the exception of Israel, has become a problem since 1975 in our area. We have found 111 cases since 1975 compared with only a few cases from 1950 to 1975. The period of pollination is between mid-February and the end of March. Diagnosis has been made by skin tests and, in some instances, by RAST with good correlation. In almost all the cases, cross-reactivity has been found between the members of the Cupressaceae family with Cupressus sempervirens, the commonest cypress in the South of France, associated most often with this allergy. Clinically, allergy was of the oculo-nasal type with the association, in a few cases, of asthma or spasmodic cough. The unexpected increase of a particular allergy in a given population of atopic people raises several general problems. In this particular case it seems to us that the larger number of cypresses, which have been recently grown, is not the only explanation of the phenomenon.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Cross-reactivity between the pollens of Cupressus sempervirens (common cypress) and of Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese cedar).

A clinical and immunologic study was performed comparing a group of French patients allergic to the pollens of cypress (Cupressus sempervirens, which belongs to the Cupressaceae family) and a group of Japanese patients allergic to the pollens of Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica, which belongs to the Taxodiaceae family). By skin testing, RAST, and RAST inhibition, clear cross-reactivity was detected between the two pollens. No cross-reactivity was detected between the pollens of Cupressus sempervirens and Sugi and the Pinaceae family. In addition, one can speculate that an antigen in Cupressus sempervirens is cross-reactive with SBP, the major allergen of Sugi, suggesting that there is a closer relationship between the Taxodiaceae family and the Cupressaceae family than between these two families and the other families of the gymnosperms. This finding throws new light on the taxonomy of the gymnosperms.

Cross Reactions↗
PubMed1975

The IgG subclasses of antibodies to castor bean allergen in patients with allergic asthma: detection of a high incidence of antibodies of the IgG4 subclass.

Sera from patients with allergic asthma to castor bean dust were tested for specific antibodies in the red cell linked antigen-antiglobulin reaction (RCLAAR) using antiglobulin sera specific for IgE and the four subclasses of IgG. Approximately one-third of the patients with specific IgG antibodies had an antibody response that was predominantly in the IgG4 subclass. Two patients who were thought not to be sensitive to castor bean allergen, despite long exposure to the dust, did not have detectable IgE antibodies, but had high titres of IgG antibodies that were predominantly IgG4. Specific IgG4 antibodies to castor bean allergen were heat stable, did not appear to passively sensitize monkey skin in the PCA reaction and did not passively sensitize human basophils for the rosette reaction with castor bean-coated red cells.

Animals↗