Document Detail


Concentrations of the major birch tree allergen Bet v 1 in pollen and respirable fine particles in the atmosphere.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  9389296     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Birch tree pollen allergens are an important cause of early spring hay fever and allergic asthma. Pollen counts provide a guide for individuals with birch pollen allergy. However, birch pollen, because of its size, has a low probability of entering the lower airways to trigger asthma. Yet birch pollen allergens are known to be associated with respirable particles present in the atmosphere.
OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the concentration of major allergen Bet v 1 in birch pollen and respirable particles in the atmosphere during the birch pollen season.
METHODS: We used a two-site monoclonal antibody-based assay (ELISA) to quantitate Bet v 1 in pollen extracts and high-volume air sampler filters collecting particles larger and smaller than 7.2 microm.
RESULTS: Bet v 1 (0.006 ng) is detectable per birch pollen grain, of which 0.004 ng is present in aqueous extracts (13.9% of soluble proteins). Atmospheric Bet v 1 concentrations are correlated with birch pollen counts. Heavy rainfall tended to wash out pollen and particles, indicated by a mean daily Bet v 1 concentration of 0.12 ng/m3 (20 pollen equivalents), but light rainfall produced a dramatic increase in allergen-loaded respirable particles with Bet v 1 concentrations of 1.2 ng/m3 (200 pollen equivalents).
CONCLUSION: These results highlight the different environmental risk factors for hay fever and allergic asthma in patients sensitized to Bet v 1. Light rainfall causes an increase in respirable particles; hence, this is an important risk factor for asthma.
Authors:
G F Schäppi; C Suphioglu; P E Taylor; R B Knox
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology     Volume:  100     ISSN:  0091-6749     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Allergy Clin. Immunol.     Publication Date:  1997 Nov 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1998-01-05     Completed Date:  1998-01-05     Revised Date:  2011-06-21    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  1275002     Medline TA:  J Allergy Clin Immunol     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  656-61     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Pollen and Allergen Research Group, School of Botany, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Air Pollution / analysis
Allergens / analysis*
Antigens, Plant
Cell Count
Filtration / instrumentation
Humans
Plant Proteins / analysis*
Pollen / chemistry*,  cytology
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Allergens; 0/Antigens, Plant; 0/Plant Proteins; 126161-14-6/Bet v 1 allergen, Betula

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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