Identification and characterization of Che a 1 allergen from Chenopodium album pollen

Background: Pollinosis to Chenopodium album has been reported, but no data are available on its allergenic proteins. Methods: An allergen from C. album pollen has been isolated by means of gel permeation and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Molecular characterization was achieved by concanavalin A reaction, mass spectrometry, Edman degradation and cDNA sequence. Antigenic analyses were performed by immunoblotting, ELISA, and ELISA inhibition, using sera from allergic patients, two Ole a 1-specific monoclonal antibodies and an Ole a 1-specific polyclonal antiserum. Results: The isolated allergen, Che a 1, is a glycoprotein of molecular mass 17.088 kD and 143 amino acid residues, whose sequence exhibits 27-45% identity with known members of the Ole a 1-like protein family. 77% of sera from patients allergic to chenopod pollen were reactive to Che a 1. No correlation was found between the IgE reactivities to Che a 1 and Ole a 1, the major allergens from olive pollen, and both allergens display low, although detectable, IgE and IgG cross-reactivities. Conclusions: Che a 1, a relevant allergen from chenopod pollen, is structurally related to the Ole a 1-like protein family, but exhibits significant differences on its polypeptide sequence that could explain its different antigenic behavior and limited cross-reactivity. Copyright (C) 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel.