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Allergic sensitization to inhalant allergens could be considered as a predictor in allergic diseases. The objective of this study was to assess IgE-mediated sensitization to inhalant allergens in allergic and non-allergic adults as well as the evaluation of its association with allergic diseases. This cross-sectional study was conducted from 2013 to 2016 in 604 allergic and 102 non-allergic adults selected from blood donor volunteers in Tehran, Iran. After taking informed consent, a standard questionnaire was filled to determine asthma, allergic rhinitis and/or conjunctivitis and atopic dermatitis in participants. Specific IgE assay to common inhalant allergens was performed for all subjects. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the impact of IgE sensitization on allergic diseases. A total of 371(61.4%) allergic subjects and 41(40.2%) non-allergic patients were males. The weeds (especially saltwort) and grasses (particularly meadow fescue and ryegrass) were identified as the most common inhalant allergens. The prevalence of IgE sensitization to trees, weeds, and grasses was higher in subjects with allergic rhino-conjunctivitis and trees sensitization was a significant factor in them [OR=2.32, 95% CI (1.58-3.41)]. IgE sensitization to any inhalant allergens could be a predictor for allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis and rhino-conjunctivitis in adults [OR=2.20, 95% CI (1.54-3.15], [OR=1.81, 95% CI (1.28-2.54)] and [OR=2.55, 95% CI (1.72-3.78)], respectively. With an increase in the sum of specific IgE concentrations, the prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis and rhino-conjunctivitis also increased. Our results showed the association between positive specific IgE and its concentration with some allergic diseases which could help physicians to prevent such diseases by recognizing and treating them, particularly in individuals with a positive family history of allergic diseases.

Aeroallergens play an important role in developing allergic diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the outdoor and indoor sensitization using a specific regional panel of aeroallergens in allergic patients. All patients with allergic symptoms referred to Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute (IAARI) in Tehran, Iran from December 2010 to July 2013 entered this cross sectional study. We evaluated serum samples for specific IgE against 20 selected aeroallergens provided by a specific panel (RIDA Allergy Screen test, IAARI panel). A p value less than 0.05 was considered as significant. The patients (n=602) were 49.8 % male and 50.2% female. The median age was 9 years. Positive specific IgE at least to one allergen was 53.2%. The percentages of patients with only outdoor or indoor sensitization were 37.5 and 19.7%, respectively. Moreover, 42.8% showed sensitization to both indoor and outdoor aeroallergens. The most common outdoor aeroallergens in decreasing order were plane tree (32.8%), Bermuda grass (32.2%), timothy grass (30.6%), saltwort (28.4%). The percentage of specific IgE to indoor allergens including mold and mite were 23.8 % and 22.2%, respectively. There was a statistically significant relationship between specific IgE to timothy grass and mold allergens between two genders (p=0.04 and p=0.02, respectively).The results of this study shows that outdoor aeroallergens can be considered as the most common causes of allergic symptoms in our allergic patients.

Cow's milk allergy (CMA) is an immunological response to cow's milk proteins such as casein, α-lactalbumin and β lactoglobulin. The aim of this study was to determine the most common cow's milk allergenic proteins in patients with CMA and identify the most effective proteins in different allergic symptoms. Eighty seven patients (≤18 years) with allergy to cow's milk from 2006 to 2013 entered this study. They had a positive history of allergic reactions to cow's milk and a positive specific IgE test to whole cow's milk. The patients' symptoms were divided into four groups. Serum specific IgEs against four different main proteins of cow's milk were measured using RIDA Allergy Screen. Among 87 patients, 53 (60.5%) were male and the median age was 2.5 years. The frequency of respiratory, skin, gastrointestinal symptoms, and anaphylaxis were 63.3%, 55.7%, 20.3%, and 13.4%, respectively. Specific IgEs to total cow's milk protein (n=75, 89.3%), and the main Cow's Milk Proteins including α-lactalbumin (n=65, 77.4%), casein (n=64, 75.3%), β-lactoglobulin (n=52, 62.7%), and bovine serum albumin (n=35, 44.9%) were detected. Specific IgE tests to β-lactoglobulin were positive in 90% of the patients with anaphylaxis. Moreover, significant relationship was found between specific IgE to β-lactoglobulin and anaphylaxis (p=0.04). Although it is presumed that α-lactalbumin and casein are the most common allergenic proteins of cow's milk, in this study there is a significant relationship between the anaphylaxis and the presence of β-lactoglobulin-specific IgE. Therefore, more precautions are recommended due to possible anaphylactic reactions in patients with a positive test history for β-lactoglobulin specific IgE.

Weed pollen grains belonging to the Asteraceae family contain a variety of allergens inducing type I and IV allergies in susceptible people. The aim of this research was to compare the allergenic properties of immature and mature Shasta daisy pollen grains (Chrysanthemum maximum Ramond) to define the potential role of the maturation process on the allergenicity of Asteraceae pollen grains. The immature (IP) and mature pollen (MP) grains were first studied by optical and scanning electron microscopand their protein contents were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed. Pollen extracts were finally used to sensitize guinea pigs in order to obtain IP and MP specific antibodies. Nasal provocation tests using IP and MP crude extracts were also performed on pre-sensitized guinea pigs. The MP extract induced IgE and eosinophilia in blood and positive skin tests in sensitized guinea pigs. Moreover, high number of eosinophils was found in the nasal mucosa of MP sensitized guinea pigs. SDS-PAGE analysis of the IP and MP protein content showed seven and five apparent bands ranging from 7 to 66kDa respectively. According to immunoblot analysis, MP extract contained a single allergen of 66kDa. The overall results showed developmental processes of Shasta daisy pollen grains towards both morphological and molecular changes increasing their allergenic potency.

There is much evidence that allergic symptoms represent a major health problem in polluted cities. The aim of this research is to elucidate some microscopic effects of air pollutants on pollen structure, proteins, and allergenicity. A scanning electron microscopy study of pollen grains indicated that in polluted areas, airborne particles accumulate on the surface of pollen grains and change the shape and tectum of pollen. Also, many vesicles are released from polluted pollen grains and the pollen material agglomerates on the surface of pollen grains. SDS-PAGE revealed that different proteins exist in mature and immature pollen grains. There were no significant differences between protein bands of polluted and nonpolluted pollen grains, but in polluted pollen, protein content decreases in response to air pollution, causing the release of pollen proteins. The results indicate that mature pollen have more allergenicity than immature pollen. According to the experiments polluted pollen grains are more effective than nonpolluted pollen grains in inducing allergic symptoms. Air pollutants can cause allergic symptoms, but when associated with allergen pollen grains, their allergenicity power is increased.

Background: An increasing interest in the field of molecular diagnosis of allergy has been developed in recent years and it goes to be as the routine in vitro protocol in allergy diagnosis. friendly allergen nano-bead array (FABER) is a new multiplex assay for the evaluation of specific IgE against 244 allergens including whole extracts and allergenic molecules. The research intended to assess the pattern of IgE sensitization to allergenic components of allergens in allergic adults using FABER 244. Methods: Sixty patients with allergic diseases entered this cross-sectional study. Specific IgE to 122 whole allergens extracts and 122 allergenic components were assessed using an allergen nano-bead array (FABER) for all patients. This test includes inhalant and food allergens. Results: Thirty-seven patients were male (61.7%). The mean (SD) age of patients was 30.73(±6.87) years. As the allergen nano-bead array results showed, Lolium perenne (63.3%), Phleum pratense (60%) and Platanus acerifolia (51.7%) were considered as the most common IgE sensitizations to the aeroallergen extracts. Moreover, Lol p 1, Phl p 1.0102 and Cup a 1 were found as the most frequent allergenic components in our allergic patients. Among protein families, CCD-bearing proteins, expansin, cysteine protease and profilin families illustrated the highest allergic sensitization. Conclusions: The results of the present study demonstrated that despite the higher prevalence of sensitization to Salsola kali (47.2%) using extract-based assays in the previous phase of this research, allergenic components of grasses (Lol p 1, Phl p 1.0102), Cup a 1 as well as Sal k1 as the major components of Cupressuss arizonica and Salsola kali showed the higher sensitization, respectively, in adults' allergic patients using FABER test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The skin prick test (SPT) could be applied as a useful in vivo method for the detection of sensitization in epidemiological and diagnostic studies if the wheal size is ideally evaluated. We focused on SPT wheal size to identify sensitization pattern to common inhalant and food allergens. In this cross‐sectional study, SPT results were obtained from a total of 972 allergic patients. Common allergen extracts for SPT were selected according to the type of allergic diseases, and the geographical pattern. SPT with food allergens was performed for patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and chronic urticaria (CU). A total of 461 male (47.4%) and 511 female (52.6%) participated in this study (median age: 31 years). The majority of individuals were affected with allergic rhinitis (AR) (n = 624) and asthma (n = 224); while 129 and 67 patients suffered from AD and CU, respectively. The most common aeroallergens were Russian thistle (52.1%) and lamb's quarter (50.7%) with the largest wheal diameter. The wheal size of lamb's quarter was significantly different between patients with asthma and AR (P<.001). In addition, a significant difference was detected in wheal diameter in response to the Russian thistle between patients with AR and AD (P =.001). Shrimp (23.6%) and Peanut (22.5%) caused the most common food sensitization in patients with AD and CU. Having in mind the most common weed pollens including the Russian thistle and lamb's quarter, preventive strategies, such as, removing unwanted weeds or preventing them from growing, avoidance, and specific immunotherapy may be crucial for better disease control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aeroallergens play an important role in developing allergic diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the outdoor and indoor sensitization using a specific regional panel of aeroallergens in allergic patients. All patients with allergic symptoms referred to Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute (IAARI) in Tehran, Iran from December 2010 to July 2013 entered this cross sectional study. We evaluated serum samples for specific IgE against 20 selected aeroallergens provided by a specific panel (RIDA Allergy Screen test, IAARI panel). A p value less than 0.05 was considered as significant. The patients (n=602) were 49.8 % male and 50.2% female. The median age was 9 years. Positive specific IgE at least to one allergen was 53.2%. The percentages of patients with only outdoor or indoor sensitization were 37.5 and 19.7%, respectively. Moreover, 42.8% showed sensitization to both indoor and outdoor aeroallergens. The most common outdoor aeroallergens in decreasing order were plane tree (32.8%), Bermuda grass (32.2%), timothy grass (30.6%), saltwort (28.4%). The percentage of specific IgE to indoor allergens including mold and mite were 23.8 % and 22.2%, respectively. There was a statistically significant relationship between specific IgE to timothy grass and mold allergens between two genders (p=0.04 and p=0.02, respectively). The results of this study shows that outdoor aeroallergens can be considered as the most common causes of allergic symptoms in our allergic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Fungal spores are known as one of the important airborne allergens in human beings in both an outdoor and indoor environment. They are prevalent in all climates and in every geographical area and contribute a major part of suspended bio-particulate matter of the air. In this research investigated to understand the spectrum of fungal diversity of Tehran to prepare fungal spore calendar and influence of metrological parameters and air pollution in seasonal variation. Material and Methods: By using two samplers, one was daily records Burkard 7- days spore trap during 2011-2016 in Tehran areas with high air pollution (North, South, West, East, center) and control zone with clear area was (Parand city near the Tehran) and using a volumetric petri plate sampler put on the consisting media culture subrodextros agar with chloramphenichol was used and each colony were counted respectively and studying by optical microscopy. Results: 32 fungal spore types were recorded during the survey period. In the present study, were identified as the peak seasons for different areas in Tehran. Aspergillus species was the main contributor to the total fungal load with %76.7 followed by Alternaria, cladosporium, Fusarium, candida, penicillium, yeasts, Trichotechium, Pesudoallescheria, strilehyphae, Auerobasidium, Acromonium, Ulocladium, Mucor, Rhizopus, Curvularia and Epicoccum percents of a fungal spore calendar. An attempt has also been made to assess the allergenicity of some of the fungal types recorded from the atmosphere of different in Tehran and control areas. Meanwhile the value of daily count of fungal spores was higher in April, September, November and January more than other months and the meteorological parameter that most influenced airborne spore concentrations was temperature and humidity significantly and positively in the case of dry-air spores and fungal spores concentrations were observed on air polluted days in Tehran significantly p=0.001 with respect to the control area. Conclusion: Seasonal climatic changes are very important factors in reducing or increasing suspended spores in air and detailed study in this field can get a spore calendar to each patient who has Immunodeficiency, lung disease, allergic and asthma diseases and others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FcεRI, The high affinity receptor for IgE plays a critical role in triggering the allergic reactions. It is responsible for inducing mast cell degranulation and deliberation of allergy mediators when it is aggregated by allergen and IgE complexes. FcεRI on the mast cells consists of three subunits; α chain directly binds IgE, β chain and dimmer of γ chains together mediate intracellular signaling. Cross-linking of IgE-bound FcεRI on the surface of mast cells and basophils by the multivalent antigen induces release of chemical mediators. The present in vitro study was designed to investigate the effect of synthetic FcεRI-α siRNA on the antigen-induced activation of MC/9 cells. MC/9 cells which are murine mast cells were transfected by FcεRI-α siRNA and negative control siRNA. After 6 h, anti-DNP (Dinitrophenyl) IgE was used for the cells sensitization. Then the cells were challenged with Dinitrophenyl-Human Serum Albumin (DNP-HSA) for mast cell degranulation induction before collection of supernatants. The amount of mRNA and protein expression was measured by Real Time PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. Determination of the expression rate of FcεRI-α on cell surface was achieved by flow cytometry. ELISA and spectrophotometry methods were used subsequently for measuring the effects of FcεRI-α siRNA on antigen-induced histamine and β- hexosaminidase release. FcεRI-α siRNA treated cells showed significant decrease in FcεRI-α mRNA and protein expression in comparison to control cells. FcεRI-mediated mast cell release of β-hexosaminidase and histamine were also inhibited. In this study it was shown that FcεRI-α siRNA could suppress FcεRI-α expression and inhibited degranulation and histamine release in antigen-stimulated MC/9 cells. In conclusion, knock-down of FcεRI-α by siRNA could be a promising method for inhibition of the mast cell-mediated allergic reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asthma is a complex and multifactorial disorder. Several studies have reported association between different HLA- DQB1 and HLA-DRB1 alleles and allergic asthma. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of HLA-class II alleles and haplotypes, with total serum IgE and the results of the skin prick test in Iranian children with allergic asthma. A total of 112 patients with allergic asthma symptoms (75 males and 37 females) were selected randomly from the pediatric hospital. In some patients total serum IgE and prick test were determined. Data of this study shows that HLA-DRB1*12 significantly increased in asthmatic patients (4.5% vs. 0%, P-value=0.04). HLA-DQB1*0603 and 0604 alleles were significantly higher in asthmatics than those in normal controls (10% vs. 0%, P-value= 0.0001; and 9.3% vs. 3.7%, P-value= 0.04, respectively). The statistical significance was relinquished after p value correction for all alleles except for HLA-DQB1*0602 (Pc=0.03) and HLA-DQB1*0603 (Pc=0.0015). Conversely, HLA-DQB1*0501 and 0602 were decreased in asthmatics compared to normal controls (7.5% vs. 13.5%, P-value= 0.05; and 4% vs. 12.5%, P-value= 0.002, respectively). The mean of total IgE in patients was 483 IU, and it was significantly high about 1140 IU in asthmatic patients with positive skin prick test to house dust. The most frequent alleles in asthmatic patients with the total IgE>200 IU/mL were HLA-DRB1*11and 1401, HLA-DQA1*0505, HLA-DQB1*0301 and in patients with total IgE<200 IU/mL were HLA-DRB1*0301, 07 and 1301, HLADQA1*0201 and 0301, HLA-DQB1*0201. These data suggests that HLA-DRB1, DQA1 & DQB1 alleles and haplotypes might be implicated in susceptibility to allergy and asthma and serum IgE production. As asthma and atopy are multifactorial disorders, probably HLA genes are involved in the regulation of immune specific responses to common allergen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The first Pollen Database Registry (PDR) has begun in Tehran the local pollen pattern is unique because of a specific climate. PDR designed according to detailed seasonal pollen calendar, which is required for sufferers with allergies, asthma disease and tourists. PDR are intended to be both archives of digital atlas of microscopy pollen grains and associated data as well as important research tools for studies in paleoclimatology in Tehran and then for others states of Iran. Establishment of comprehensive, archival pollen database in Iran has been performed since 2010 up to now. Basic research in the air borne pollen counts were done by Dr. Kimiayi (1970) reported of 10 pollen families. Then Dr. Shafei, Dr. Yasa et al (1981) did 18 to 31 pollen counts in Tehran. Dr. Farhoudi, Dr. Faridhosseini (1993) for project of Dr. Moin and Dr. Movahedi researched about pollen counting in Tehran and Karaj. Dr. Majd et al have reported morphology and allergenicity of pollen grains and environmental factors in Iran since 1991 up to now. We investigated pollen calendar in Tehran for 7 years and collected information about current pollen patterns. Material and Methods: In the first step, vegetation was investigated. Then two air samples were collected using (Burkard spore trap grains/m3 by Dr. Zandieh and Durham sampler grains/m2) to identify and determine pollen concentration in the air and separated in three groups of tree and shrubs, weeds and grasses and reported according to the National Allergy Bureau scale (NAB) and statistical analyzed pollen counts relationships with metrological factors and air pollution data in Tehran. Then pollen data were placed in web site design in space of IAARI. Results: We observed 121 plant families including 570 genera and species in vegetation in Tehran and drew pollen calendar for 7 years and compared with metrological factors and air pollution data that in most cases was significantly p<0.05. Conclusion: We can use data mining method for exact separation of data for each pollen patterns, in Tehran and other cities of Iran. In the future, we would like to link with World Allergy Organization (WAO) and Global Pollen Database (GPD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]