Science and Research

Meat allergy associated with galactosyl-alpha-(1,3)-galactose (alpha-Gal)-Closing diagnostic gaps by anti-alpha-Gal IgE immune profiling

BACKGROUND: Glycoproteins and glycolipids of some mammalian species contain the disaccharide galactosyl-alpha-(1,3)-galactose (alpha-Gal). It is known that alpha-Gal is immunogenic in humans and causes glycan-specific IgG and also IgE responses with clinical relevance. alpha-Gal is part of the IgE-reactive monoclonal therapeutic antibody cetuximab (CTX) and is associated with delayed anaphylaxis to red meat. In this study, different alpha-Gal-containing analytes are examined in singleplex and multiplex assays to resolve individual sensitization patterns with IgE against alpha-Gal. METHODS: Three serum groups, alpha-Gal-associated meat allergy (MA) patients, idiopathic anaphylaxis (IA) patients with suspected MA, and non-meat-allergic healthy control individuals (HC), were analyzed via singleplex allergy diagnostics and a newly established immunoblot diagnostic system. The new dot blot detection system resolved individual IgE sensitization profiles for alpha-Gal-containing analytes CTX, bovine thyroglobulin (Bos d TG), and human serum albumin (HSA)-conjugated alpha-Gal. RESULTS: Singleplex allergy diagnostics using the alpha-Gal analytes CTX and Bos d TG confirms the history of MA patients in 91% and 88% of the cases, respectively. A novel dot blot-based assay system for the detection of IgE against alpha-Gal reveals individual IgE sensitization profiles for alpha-Gal-containing analytes. An alpha-Gal-associated IgE cross-reactivity profile (IgE against CTX, Bos d TG, and HSA-alpha-Gal) was identified, which is associated with MA. CONCLUSIONS: Detection of individual sensitization patterns with different alpha-Gal-containing analytes provides the basis for an individual allergy diagnosis for alpha-Gal-sensitized patients. Higher amounts of alpha-Gal in pork and beef innards compared to muscle meat as indicated by a higher staining intensity are a plausible explanation for the difference in allergic symptom severity.

  • Jappe, U.
  • Minge, S.
  • Kreft, B.
  • Ludwig, A.
  • Przybilla, B.
  • Walker, A.
  • Varga, R.
  • Seidel, P.
  • Biedermann, T.
  • Anemuller, W.
  • Kromminga, A.
  • Rueff, F.
  • Merk, H.
  • Wagner, N.
  • Treudler, R.
  • Worm, M.
  • Waldmann, I.
  • Saloga, J.
  • Becker, W. M.
  • Goldmann, T.
  • Platts-Mills, T. A.
  • Homann, A.

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Allergens/*immunology
  • Anaphylaxis/diagnosis/immunology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cross Reactions/immunology
  • Female
  • Food Hypersensitivity/*diagnosis/*immunology
  • Galactose/chemistry/*immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunochemistry
  • Immunoglobulin E/*immunology
  • Male
  • Meat/*adverse effects
  • Middle Aged
  • Red Meat/adverse effects
  • Young Adult
  • alpha-Gal
  • bovine thyroglobulin
  • cetuximab
  • delayed anaphylaxis
  • meat allergy
Publication details
DOI: 10.1111/all.13238
Journal: Allergy
Pages: 93-105 
Number: 1
Work Type: Original
Location: ARCN
Disease Area: AA
Partner / Member: FZB
Access-Number: 28670695
See publication on PubMed

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