Characterization of the major allergen of Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass) pollen, Cyn d I

doi:10.1016/0091-6749(91)90184-P

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Volume 88, Issue 5, November 1991, Pages 763-774

https://doi.org/10.1016/0091-6749(91)90184-P Get rights and content

Abstract

An allergen from Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass) pollen, Cyn d I, has been purified by a combination of concanavalin A-Sepharose affinity chromatography, and carboxymethyl-Sepharose chromatography. The allergen constitutes the major allergenic component of the pollen extract as observed by immunoelectrophoretic techniques, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, an IgE-inhibition experiment, and skin testing. In sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Cyn d I is presented as a dominant 32 kd band and a minor 29 kd band, both binding IgE. Both bands are identified by monospecific rabbit antibodies (Abs) raised against Cyn d I. These Abs only weakly precipitate allergens from other grass species, indicating that Cyn d I possesses some unique immunochemical properties. Two of four purified murine monoclonal Abs raised against Cyn d I also bind to both bands of Cyn d I, indicating that the bands represent isoallergens with slightly different immunochemical properties. All four monoclonal Abs cross-react with pollen components from other grass species, especially Poa pratensis and Dactylis glomerata. The NH₂-terminal sequence corresponding to approximately 10% of the complete sequence was determined, and it revealed high homology to the corresponding sequence of the major allergen of Lolium perenne, Lol p I. From the amino acid composition determination and immunoelectrophoretic comparison, the amount of Cyn d I in the source whole-pollen extract was estimated to be 75% $wt wt$ .

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Lorenz and colleagues, 2009 argue that cross-reactivity of Cyn d 1 with other group 1 grass allergens is contradictory, citing a number of studies over the past decade. Of the seven characterised Bermuda grass allergens, only two appear to be cross-reactive (Cyn d 1 and Cyn d 7) but present contradictory results [1,15-17]. However, cross-reactivity studies have since been explored including a comparison of allergen-specific IgE binding from different grass species by Johansen et al., 2009, using patient sera from thousands of subjects from North America and Europe.
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Methods Homology models were used of Fag s 1 (Beech) and Cyn d 1 (Bermuda grass) and compared with template crystal structures of Bet v 1 and Phl p 1 from the ‘exemplar’ species of Birch and Timothy grass, respectively. ELISA experiments were performed to assess cross-reactivity of Beech (tree) and Bermuda (grass) extracts to rabbit sera raised to either “3-Tree” (Birch, Alder and Hazel) extract or “Grass” (12-grass mix extract), respectively. The comparability of biochemical stability of different allergen sources was assessed through statistical methods for a range of tree and grass species.
Results Allergen cross-reactivity and/or structural homology have been described providing justification for inclusion of Beech within the Birch homologous tree group. Data from Bermuda grass (Cyn d 1) provides further justification for the inclusion of this species into the homologous group of the sweet grasses. However, further characterisation of relevant allergens from Bermuda grass and, in particular, comparison of cross-reactive patterns between subjects specifically in areas with high abundance of both Pooideae and Chloridoideae is sought.
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^∗: From ALK Research, Hørsholm, Denmark.

^∗∗: From Department of Pediatrics, University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz.

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Original articleCharacterization of the major allergen of Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass) pollen, Cyn d I

Abstract

J Allergy Clin Immunol

J Allergy Clin Immunol

J Allergy Clin Immunol

J Biol Chem

J Immunol Methods

J Allergy Clin Immunol

J Allergy Clin Immunol

J Allergy

J Allergy Clin Immunol

Mol Immunol

J Allergy Clin Immunol

Studies on Bermuda-grass pollen allergens

S Afr Med J

Identification of allergens and antigens of Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) pollen by immunoblot analysis

Clin Allergy

Group V allergens in grass pollens. II. An investigation of group V allergens in pollens from ten grasses

Clin Exp Allergy

Characterization of the major allergen of Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass) pollen [Abstract]

J Allergy Clin Immunol

Monoclonal antibodies against group I and group V allergens of grass pollens [Abstract]

Clin Exp Allergy

Original article
Characterization of the major allergen of Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass) pollen, Cyn d I