Background: The prevalence of seasonal allergic diseases of the upper airways is increasing in industrialized countries. The Cupressaceae are important causes of pollinosis, particularly in Europe.
Objective: To determine whether the pollen from Cupressus sempervirens (Italian cypress) contains a pathogenesis-related group 5 (PR-5) protein, similar to that found in other allergenic Cupressaceae pollens.
Methods: Messenger RNA was purified from Italian cypress pollen, and complementary DNA (cDNA) was synthesized. cDNAs for PR-5 proteins were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and extended by rapid amplification of cDNA ends methods. Recombinant Cup s 3 was expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein. Inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to test the allergenicity of Cup s 3.
Results: Three cDNAs were cloned. These clones had approximately 95% identity to Jun a 3 and Cup a 3. Recombinant Cup s 3.0102 maltose-binding protein inhibited the IgE from most patients from binding to an extract of Italian cypress. The extent of inhibition suggested that antibodies to Cup s 3 were a prominent component of the IgE response to Italian cypress pollen.
Conclusion: Cup s 3, an allergen of Italian cypress pollen, was identified based on cross-reactivity and homology with other pollen PR-5 proteins, despite an apparently low level of protein expression. Variations in the content of Cup s 3 in the pollen from different regions or trees should be considered in the choice of extracts for diagnosis and specific immunotherapy for Italian cypress pollen hypersensitivity.