ASSOCIATION BETWEEN POLLEN HYPERSENSITIVITY AND EDIBLE VEGETABLE ALLERGY - A REVIEW

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.