Pastor Carlos, Cuesta-Herranz Javier, Cases Barbara, Pérez-Gordo Marina, Figueredo Elena, de las Heras Manuel, Vivanco Fernando
Departamento de Inmunología, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, ES-28040 Madrid, Spain.
Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2009;149(4):291-8. doi: 10.1159/000205574. Epub 2009 Mar 17.
Watermelon is a worldwide consumed Cucurbitaceae fruit that can elicit allergic reactions. However, the major allergens of watermelon are not known. The aim of this study is to identify and characterize major allergens in watermelon.
Twenty-three patients allergic to watermelon took part in the study. The diagnosis was based on a history of symptoms and positive skin prick-prick tests to watermelon, confirmed by positive open oral challenge testing to watermelon pulp. Allergenic components were detected by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. Molecular characterization of IgE-binding bands was performed by N-terminal amino acid sequencing and mass spectrometry. Allergens were purified combining several chromatographic steps.
Several IgE binding bands (8-120 kDa) were detected in watermelon extract. Three major allergens were identified as malate dehydrogenase (36 kDa), triose phosphate isomerase (28 kDa) and profilin (13 kDa). Purified allergens individually inhibited IgE binding to the whole watermelon extract.
All in all these results indicate that malate dehydrogenase, triose phosphate isomerase and profilin are major allergens involved in watermelon allergy.
西瓜是一种全球广泛食用的葫芦科水果，可引发过敏反应。然而，西瓜的主要过敏原尚不清楚。本研究的目的是鉴定和表征西瓜中的主要过敏原。
23名对西瓜过敏的患者参与了本研究。诊断基于症状病史以及对西瓜的皮肤点刺试验呈阳性，并通过对西瓜果肉的开放性口服激发试验呈阳性得到证实。通过SDS-PAGE和免疫印迹检测过敏原成分。通过N端氨基酸测序和质谱对IgE结合条带进行分子表征。通过多个色谱步骤组合纯化过敏原。
在西瓜提取物中检测到几条IgE结合条带（8 - 120 kDa）。鉴定出三种主要过敏原，分别为苹果酸脱氢酶（36 kDa）、磷酸丙糖异构酶（28 kDa）和肌动蛋白结合蛋白（13 kDa）。纯化后的过敏原单独抑制IgE与整个西瓜提取物的结合。
总体而言，这些结果表明苹果酸脱氢酶、磷酸丙糖异构酶和肌动蛋白结合蛋白是西瓜过敏中的主要过敏原。
