Micro-arrayed wheat seed and grass pollen allergens for component-resolved diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Wheat is a potent allergen source and can cause baker's asthma, food and pollen allergy. The aim of the study was to develop an allergen micro-array for differential diagnosis of baker's asthma, wheat-induced food allergy and grass pollen allergy.
METHODS: We analysed the immunoglobulin-E reactivity profiles of patients suffering from baker's asthma, wheat-induced food allergy and grass pollen allergy to micro-arrayed recombinant wheat flour allergens and grass pollen allergens and compared these results with clinical results and diagnostic tests based on crude wheat flour, wheat pollen and grass pollen allergen extracts.
RESULTS: We identified recombinant wheat flour allergens, which are specifically recognized by patients suffering from baker's asthma, but not from patients with food allergy to wheat or pollen allergy. rPhl p 1 and rPhl p 5 were identified as marker allergens specific for grass pollen allergy. They can be used to replace grass pollen extracts for allergy diagnosis and to identify grass pollen allergic patients among patients suffering from baker's asthma and wheat-induced food allergy. Profilin was identified as a cross-reactive allergen recognized by patients suffering from baker's asthma, food and pollen allergy.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that it will be possible to design serological tests based on micro-arrayed recombinant wheat seed and grass pollen allergens for the discrimination of baker's asthma, wheat-induced food allergy and grass pollen allergy.