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The Role of Lipid Transfer Proteins in Allergic Diseases

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Abstract

Nonspecific lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are important allergens in fruits, vegetables, nuts, pollen, and latex. Despite their wide distribution throughout the plant kingdom, their clinical relevance is largely confined to the Mediterranean area. As they can sensitize via the gastrointestinal tract, LPTs are considered true food allergens, and IgE reactivity to LTPs is often associated with severe systemic symptoms. Although Pru p 3 represents the predominant LTP in terms of patients’ IgE recognition, the contribution of pollen LTPs in primary sensitization cannot be ruled out. Due to structural homology, LTPs from different allergen sources are generally IgE cross-reactive. However, sensitization profiles among allergic patients are extremely heterogeneous, and individual cross-reactivity patterns can be restricted to a single LTP or encompass many different LTPs. Molecule-based approaches in allergy research and diagnosis are important for better understanding of LTP allergy and could assist clinicians with providing adequate patient-tailored advice.

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Acknowledgment

The authors contributing to this work were supported by the Christian Doppler Research Association and Biomay AG, Vienna, Austria.

Disclosure

Dr. Ferreira has served as a consultant for Biomay AG. No other potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Christian Doppler Laboratory for Allergy Diagnosis and Therapy, Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstraβe 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria

    Matthias Egger, Michael Hauser, Fatima Ferreira & Gabriele Gadermaier

  2. Center for Molecular Allergology, IDI-IRCCS, Via dei Monti di Creta 104, 00167, Rome, Italy

    Adriano Mari

Authors
  1. Matthias Egger
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  2. Michael Hauser
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  3. Adriano Mari
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  4. Fatima Ferreira
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  5. Gabriele Gadermaier
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Correspondence to Gabriele Gadermaier.

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Egger, M., Hauser, M., Mari, A. et al. The Role of Lipid Transfer Proteins in Allergic Diseases. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 10, 326–335 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-010-0128-9

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