González-Pérez Ruperto, Poza-Guedes Paloma, Figueiras-Rincón Manuel Alberto, Colque-Bayona Mónica, Sánchez-Machín Inmaculada
Allergy Department, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, 38320 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
Severe Asthma Unit, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, 38320 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
Nutrients. 2025 Apr 22;17(9):1405. doi: 10.3390/nu17091405.
Edible insects (EIs) are increasingly recognized as a sustainable protein source, yet concerns persist regarding allergic reactions, even in individuals without prior known consumption. This study examines the immune response profile in patients from a subtropical area to improve understanding of mite-related cross-reactivity and emerging food sensitizations. To assess sensitization to edible insects, we analyzed 634 patients from a tertiary care allergy institution with high perennial exposure to house dust mites and storage mites. Sensitization patterns were assessed using the ALEX² MacroArray platform, a multiplex IgE diagnostic tool covering 282 allergens, including (Lm), (Ad), and (Tm). Patients with IgE levels ≥0.3 kU/L were evaluated for cross-reactivity to both mite allergens and pan-allergens. : Of the 634 patients, 138 (21.76%) exhibited IgE sensitization to at least one EI extract. Tropomyosin was the most prevalent pan-allergen (63.76%), followed by troponin-C (28.98%) and arginine kinase (26.81%). Notably, 95.66% of EI-sensitized individuals also reacted to mite allergens. However, 23.18% lacked reactivity to common pan-allergens, suggesting alternative sensitization mechanisms. : This investigation can highlight regional variations in EI sensitization, where high mite exposure in subtropical climates appears to influence IgE responses to insect proteins. The findings suggest that EI sensitization is not merely incidental but represents a distinct immunological phenomenon shaped by environmental factors and allergen cross-reactivity. Since the presence of food-specific IgE does not reliably indicate clinical allergy, and the lack of food challenge data constrains diagnostic certainty, acknowledging EI sensitization as a potential risk factor remains essential for ensuring food safety and protecting public health.
可食用昆虫(EIs)越来越被视为一种可持续的蛋白质来源,但即便在之前并无食用史的个体中,对于过敏反应的担忧依然存在。本研究调查了来自亚热带地区患者的免疫反应情况,以增进对螨类相关交叉反应性和新出现的食物致敏情况的了解。为评估对可食用昆虫的致敏情况,我们分析了来自一家三级医疗过敏机构的634名患者,这些患者常年大量接触屋尘螨和仓储螨。使用ALEX²宏阵列平台评估致敏模式,这是一种覆盖282种过敏原的多重IgE诊断工具,包括(Lm)、(Ad)和(Tm)。对IgE水平≥0.3 kU/L的患者评估其对螨类过敏原和泛过敏原的交叉反应性。:在634名患者中,138名(21.76%)对至少一种EI提取物表现出IgE致敏。原肌球蛋白是最常见的泛过敏原(63.76%),其次是肌钙蛋白C(28.98%)和精氨酸激酶(2%)。值得注意的是,95.66%的EI致敏个体也对螨类过敏原产生反应。然而,23.18%的个体对常见泛过敏原无反应,提示存在其他致敏机制。:本调查可突出EI致敏的区域差异,亚热带气候中高螨暴露似乎会影响对昆虫蛋白的IgE反应。研究结果表明,EI致敏并非偶然现象,而是一种由环境因素和过敏原交叉反应性塑造的独特免疫现象。由于食物特异性IgE的存在并不能可靠地表明临床过敏,且缺乏食物激发试验数据限制了诊断的确定性,因此将EI致敏视为潜在风险因素对于确保食品安全和保护公众健康仍然至关重要。 681%)。值得注意的是,95.66%的EI致敏个体也对螨类过敏原产生反应。然而,23.18%的个体对常见泛过敏原无反应,提示存在其他致敏机制。:本调查可突出EI致敏的区域差异,亚热带气候中高螨暴露似乎会影响对昆虫蛋白的IgE反应。研究结果表明,EI致敏并非偶然现象,而是一种由环境因素和过敏原交叉反应性塑造的独特免疫现象。由于食物特异性IgE的存在并不能可靠地表明临床过敏,且缺乏食物激发试验数据限制了诊断的确定性,因此将EI致敏视为潜在风险因素对于确保食品安全和保护公众健康仍然至关重要。