An IgE-Mediated Allergic Reaction Caused by Mulberry Fruit.
10.4168/aair.2015.7.2.195
- Author:
Jong Hyun CHOI
1
;
Jae Kyoem SIM
;
Jee Youn OH
;
Gyu Young HUR
;
Kyung Hoon MIN
;
Sung Yong LEE
;
Jae Jeong SHIM
;
Kyung Ho KANG
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. gyhur@korea.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Mulberry;
allergen;
food allergy;
IgE
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Betula;
Colic;
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay;
Far East;
Food Hypersensitivity;
Fruit*;
Humans;
Hypersensitivity*;
Immunoglobulin E;
Korea;
Male;
Morus*;
Pollen;
Respiration;
Skin;
Thorax;
Trees;
Urticaria
- From:Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research
2015;7(2):195-198
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Mulberry (Morus spp.) is a widespread deciduous tree and its fruit is commonly eaten in Korea and eastern Asia. Some reports demonstrate that mulberry fruit is a food allergen in the Mediterranean area. However, there has been no report of systemic allergic reactions after ingesting mulberry fruit in Korea. An 18-year-old boy with a mulberry fruit allergy visited our allergy clinic. He had experienced generalized urticaria, chest tightness, breathing difficulty, and abdominal cramping after ingesting mulberry fruit. The patient had a positive skin reaction to mulberry fruit extract (mean wheal size, 5 mm). We performed an ELISA to detect specific IgE antibody (Ab) to mulberry fruit extract in the patient's serum compared to those of non-atopic healthy controls and birch-sensitized individuals. Specific IgE Ab to mulberry fruit extract was detected in the patient's serum, as compared to non-atopic healthy controls. Another subject, who was strongly sensitized to birch pollen, also had a positive serum-specific IgE Ab to mulberry fruit. We performed IgE immunoblot analysis using the patient's and the other subject's sera, who had serum-specific IgE to mulberry fruit, to identify the IgE-binding component. An identical IgE-binding component to mulberry extract was detected in the two subjects at around 17 kDa, and which might be PR 10 of Bet v 1. In conclusion, mulberry fruit could induce a systemic allergic reaction through an IgE-mediated mechanism, and cross-reactivity might occur between mulberry fruit and birch pollen.
