Identification of galactose-α-1,3-galactose in the gastrointestinal tract of the tick Ixodes ricinus; possible relationship with red meat allergy
Hamsten C, Starkhammar M, Tran TA, Johansson M, Bengtsson U, Ahlén G, Sällberg M, Grönlund H, van Hage M
Allergy · 151 citations
Review labels
Neutral facts our review recorded about how this study was done. They describe method, never whether we like the result.
How it was studied
- Design
- In vitro/mechanistic study (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- People, plus animal or lab work
- Main outcome
- Mechanisms only
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- University or hospital
- Karolinska Institutet
Based on 1 listed funder(s).
Publication
- Published
- 2013-02-18 · Allergy · vol. 68 · issue 4 · pp. 549–552
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Cited
- 212 citations · more than 99% of similar papers · 12.7× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 13 works
- Access
- Paywalled
- Research areas
- Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Research · Xenotransplantation and immune response · Contact Dermatitis and Allergies
- Keywords
- Tick, Ricinus, Red meat, Ixodes ricinus, Epitope, Immunology, Polyclonal antibodies, Food allergy, Biology, Allergy, Medicine, Antibody, Food science, Virology, Biochemistry
- MeSH
- gastrointestinal tract, animals, chickens, cattle, humans, ixodes, food hypersensitivity, disaccharides, immunoglobulin e, allergens, epitopes, meat products, adult, middle aged, female, male
9 authors
From SE
- Carl HamstenKarolinska University Hospital; Karolinska Institutet
- Maria StarkhammarStockholm South General Hospital
- Thi Anh Thu TranKarolinska University Hospital; Karolinska Institutet
- Magnus JohanssonSödertörn University; Örebro University
- Ulf J. BengtssonStockholm South General Hospital
- Gustaf AhlénKarolinska University Hospital; Karolinska Institutet
Abstract
Patients with IgE antibodies against the carbohydrate epitope galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-Gal) have reported severe allergic reactions after consumption of red meat. Investigations have revealed associations between IgE to α-Gal and tick bites. We provide the first direct evidence that α-Gal is present within ticks thus potentially explaining the relationship between tick exposure and sensitization to α-Gal, with development of red meat allergy as a secondary phenomena. Serum from Swedish patients with delayed severe reactions to red meat was included in the study. A dose-dependent inhibition of IgE responses to α-Gal by the tick Ixodes ricinus is demonstrated. Furthermore, using cryostat-cut sections of I. ricinus, we show that both a monoclonal and a polyclonal antibody against α-Gal stains the gastrointestinal tract of the tick. The same pattern is seen when staining with patient sera IgE positive to α-Gal. These results confirm that the α-Gal epitope is present in I. ricinus and imply host exposure to α-Gal during a tick bite. This provides further evidence that tick bites are associated with IgE responses to α-Gal and red meat allergy.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher.
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