Iacovacci P, Afferni C, Barletta B, Tinghino R, Di Felice G, Pini C, Mari A
Department of Immunology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome.
J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1998 Jun;101(6 Pt 1):755-61. doi: 10.1016/S0091-6749(98)70304-5.
Cupressaceae allergy is a worldwide pollinosis caused by several species. Some species in limited geographic areas pollinate in fall and winter. Juniperus oxycedrus matches these features.
We sought to define the immunochemical, allergologic, and environmental aspects of J. oxycedrus pollen.
Pollen extract from J. oxycedrus was prepared and characterized by biochemical analysis and human specific IgE binding by means of ELISA and immunoblotting. A 3-year phenological study was conducted to define the pollinating period of J. oxycedrus. Forty consecutive patients allergic to cypress were recruited in two areas and divided into two groups according to their exposure to J. oxycedrus pollen. Clinical evaluation, skin prick tests, and specific IgE determination with J. oxycedrus, J. ashei, and Cupressus arizonica extracts were carried out on both groups.
J. oxycedrus pollen extract was obtained, and it showed specific IgE binding and wide cross-reactivity with other Cupressaceae species. The extract caused a positive skin test response in all the patients tested, with about 80% of them having detectable specific IgE. Symptoms related to J. oxycedrus pollen exposure were recorded in 72% of the directly exposed patients and occasionally in 9% of the nonexposed patients. In the Mediterranean coastal area considered, J. oxycedrus was the first Cupressaceae species that started to pollinate at the beginning of November and ended in the first part of December.
J. oxycedrus represents a newly characterized pollen species of the Cupressaceae family that cross-reacts with other members of the same family. Subjects with cypress allergy have in vivo and in vitro positive test responses for J. oxycedrus and can show symptoms when exposed to its pollen. Finally, the most important feature of J. oxycedrus is its early pollinating period in southern Europe (Italy), causing a further extension of the cypress pollen season in areas where other Cupressaceae species are present.
柏科植物过敏是一种由多个物种引起的全球性花粉症。在有限的地理区域内，一些物种在秋冬季节授粉。刺柏符合这些特征。
我们试图确定刺柏花粉的免疫化学、变应性学和环境方面的特征。
制备刺柏花粉提取物，并通过生化分析以及酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）和免疫印迹法检测其与人特异性IgE的结合情况，对其进行表征。开展了一项为期3年的物候学研究，以确定刺柏的授粉期。在两个地区招募了40名连续的对柏树过敏的患者，并根据他们接触刺柏花粉的情况将其分为两组。对两组患者均进行了临床评估、皮肤点刺试验以及使用刺柏、墨西哥柏和亚利桑那柏提取物进行特异性IgE测定。
获得了刺柏花粉提取物，它显示出与其他柏科植物物种的特异性IgE结合以及广泛的交叉反应性。该提取物在所有受试患者中均引起了阳性皮肤试验反应，其中约80%的患者可检测到特异性IgE。72%的直接接触患者记录到了与刺柏花粉暴露相关的症状，9%的未接触患者偶尔也出现了相关症状。在所研究的地中海沿岸地区，刺柏是11月初开始授粉并于12月上旬结束的首个柏科植物物种。
刺柏是柏科植物中一个新确定特征的花粉物种，与同科的其他成员存在交叉反应。对柏树过敏的受试者对刺柏进行体内和体外试验均呈阳性反应，接触其花粉时可能出现症状。最后，刺柏最重要的特征是其在欧洲南部（意大利）的早期授粉期，这使得在存在其他柏科植物物种的地区，柏树花粉季节进一步延长。
