metallothionein and Hypersensitivity

Dust of green coffee beans is known to be a relevant cause for occupational allergic disorders in coffee industry workers. Recently, we described the first coffee allergen (Cof a 1) establishing an allergenic potential of green coffee dust.. Our aim was to identify allergenic components of green coffee in order to enhance inhalative coffee allergy diagnosis.. A Coffea arabica pJuFo cDNA phage display library was created and screened for IgE binding with sera from allergic coffee workers. Two further coffee allergens were identified by sequence analysis, expressed in E. coli, and evaluated by Western blots. The prevalence of sensitization to recombinant Cof a 1, Cof a 2, and Cof a 3 and to commercially available extract was investigated by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) respectively CAP (capacity test) screening in 18 sera of symptomatic coffee workers.. In addition to the previously described chitinase Cof a 1, two Coffea arabica cysteine-rich metallothioneins of 9 and 7 kDa were identified and included in the IUIS Allergen Nomenclature as Cof a 2 and Cof a 3. Serum IgE antibodies to at least one of the recombinant allergens were found in 8 out of 18 symptomatic coffee workers (44%). Only 2 of the analysed sera (11%) had reacted previously to the commercial allergy test.. In addition to the previously described Cof a 1 we have identified two further coffee proteins to be type I coffee allergens (Cof a 2 and Cof a 3) which may have a relevant potential for the specific diagnosis and/or therapy of coffee allergy.

Topics: Adult; Allergens; Amino Acid Sequence; Base Sequence; Cloning, Molecular; Coffea; Coffee; DNA, Complementary; Female; Gene Expression; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Immunoglobulin E; Male; Metallothionein; Middle Aged; Molecular Sequence Data; Occupational Diseases; Plant Proteins; Recombinant Proteins; Sequence Alignment

The goji berry, Lycium barbarum, has long been recognised in traditional Chinese medicine for various therapeutic properties based on its antioxidant and immune-modulating effects. This study describes the potential for orally consumed goji berry juice to alter the photodamage induced in the skin of mice by acute solar simulated UV (SSUV) irradiation. In Skh:hr-1 hairless mice, 5% goji berry juice significantly reduced the inflammatory oedema of the sunburn reaction. Dilutions of goji berry juice between 1% and 10% dose-dependently protected against SSUV-induced immunosuppression, and against suppression induced by the mediator, cis-urocanic acid, measured by the contact hypersensitivity reaction. The immune protection could not be ascribed to either the minor excipients in the goji juice, pear and apple juice, nor the vitamin C content, nor the preservative, and appeared to be a property of the goji berry itself. Antioxidant activity in the skin was demonstrated by the significant protection by 5% goji juice against lipid peroxidation induced by UVA radiation. Furthermore, two known inducible endogenous skin antioxidants, haem oxygenase-1 and metallothionein, were found to be involved in the photoimmune protection. The results suggest that consumption of this juice could provide additional photoprotection for susceptible humans.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Beverages; Drinking; Edema; Female; Heme Oxygenase-1; Hypersensitivity; Immunosuppression Therapy; Inflammation; Lipid Peroxidation; Lycium; Metallothionein; Mice; Mice, Hairless; Oleic Acids; Oxidative Stress; Radiation Injuries, Experimental; Skin Diseases; Sunburn; Ultraviolet Rays

Topics: Animals; Dactinomycin; Hypersensitivity; Iron; Liver; Male; Metalloproteins; Metallothionein; Rats; Serum Albumin, Bovine; Zinc