T. Caballero et M. Martinesteban, ASSOCIATION BETWEEN POLLEN HYPERSENSITIVITY AND EDIBLE VEGETABLE ALLERGY - A REVIEW, Journal of investigational allergology & clinical immunology, 8(1), 1998, pp. 6-16
Over the last three decades several authors have described the existen
ce of an association between sensitivity to different pollens and sens
itivity to diverse edible vegetables. An association between ragweed p
ollinosis and hypersensitivity to Cucurbitaceae vegetables (e.g., wate
rmelon, melon, cucumber) and banana has been reported. Other authors h
ave found a relationship between birch pollinosis and sensitization to
hazelnut, apple, carrot, potato, kiwi and other vegetables. Additiona
lly several papers have shown the association between mugwort pollinos
is and sensitization to celery, carrot, spices, nuts, mustard and Legu
minoseae vegetables. Later, some studies showed association between gr
ass pollinosis and sensitization to tomato, potato, green-pea, peanut,
watermelon, melon, apple, orange and kiwi. Finally, an association be
tween sensitization to plantain pollen and melon hypersensitivity was
also described. The association between pollinosis and edible vegetabl
e sensitization has been explained by the combination of different hyp
otheses, such as the following: 1) presence of lectins in edible veget
ables; 2) existence of IgE to carbohydrates of the glycoproteins (cros
sreactive carbohydrate determinants); and, 3) existence of common alle
rgens between pollens and edible vegetables. Up to now three allergens
have been identified as responsible for cross-reactivity in these ass
ociations: profilin, a 14 kd protein that regulates actin; Bet v 1, th
e 18 kd birch pollen allergen; and a 60-69 kd allergen. It is importan
t to study in depth these associated sensitizations and the common all
ergens responsible for them in order to improve diagnostic methods and
treatment of these syndromes.