Mugwort Pollen-Related Food Allergy: Lipid Transfer Protein Sensitization and Correlation With the Severity of Allergic Reactions in a Chinese Population

PURPOSE: Little is known about the importance of lipid transfer protein (LTP) sensitization in China. In this study, we investigated the relationship between LTP sensitization and the severity of clinical symptoms in a population of patients with mugwort pollen-related food allergy. METHODS: Food-induced symptoms were evaluated in 148 patients with mugwort pollen allergy by a standardized questionnaire. Specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) to Art v 1, Art v 3, Pru p 3, Ara h 9 and Cor a 8 were quantified by ImmunoCAP. Immunoblotting of peach extracts were performed with sera from peach-allergic patients. RESULTS: In total, 72% (107/148) of the study population experienced food allergy. Forty-eight percent (51/107) of patients with mugwort pollen-related food allergy experienced at least 1 episode of food-induced anaphylaxis. Food allergy correlated with IgE reactivity to Art v 3, but not to Art v 1. Sensitization to Pru p 3, Ara h 9 or Cor a 8 was prevalent (80%, 69 or 63%, respectively) among individuals with food allergy. Food allergic patients with systemic reactions (SR) had higher values for Pru p 3, Ara h 9 and Cor a 8 than patients with oral allergy syndrome (OAS). Furthermore, the strong IgE reactivity detected in immunoblots of peach extracts indicated that Pru p 3 was the major allergen and was more prevalent in patients with SR than in patients with OAS (100% vs. 55%). CONCLUSIONS: LTPs are major food allergens for mugwort pollen-related food allergy in China, and may contribute to SR.