A molecular sensitization map of European children reveals exposome- and climate-dependent sensitization profiles

M B Gea Kiewiet, Christian Lupinek, Susanne Vrtala, Sandra Wieser, Alexandra Baar, Renata Kiss, Inger Kull, Erik Melén, Magnus Wickman, Daniela Porta, Davide Gori, Ulrike Gehring, Rob Aalberse, Jordi Sunyer, Marie Standl, Joachim Heinrich, Dagmar Waiblinger, John Wright, Josep M Antó, Jean BousquetMarianne van Hage, Rudolf Valenta*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Understanding differences in sensitization profiles at the molecular allergen level is important for diagnosis, personalized treatment and prevention strategies in allergy.

METHODS: Immunoglobulin E (IgE) sensitization profiles were determined in more than 2800 sera from children in nine population-based cohorts in different geographical regions of Europe; north [BAMSE (Sweden), ECA (Norway)], west/central [PIAMA (the Netherlands), BiB (the United Kingdom), GINIplus (Germany)], and south [INMA Sabadell and Gipuzkoa (Spain) and ROBBIC Rome and Bologna (Italy)] using the MeDALL-allergen chip.

RESULTS: Sensitization to grass pollen allergen, Phl p 1, and to major cat allergen, Fel d 1, dominated in most European regions whereas sensitization to house dust mite allergens Der p 1, 2 and 23 varied considerably between regions and were lowest in the north. Less than half of children from Sabadell which has a hot and dry climate were sensitized to respiratory allergens, in particular house dust mite allergens as compared to Gipuzkoa nearby with a more humid climate. Peanut allergen Ara h 1 was the most frequently recognized class 1 food allergen in Northern/Western Europe, while the fruit allergens Pru p 3, Act d 1 and 2 were prominent in Southern and Western/Central Europe. Ves v 5-sensitization dominated in North and West/Central Europe.

CONCLUSION: We show regional, exposome- and climate-dependent differences in molecular IgE-reactivity profiles in Northern, Western/Central and Southern Europe which may form a molecular basis for precision medicine-based approaches for treatment and prevention of allergy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2007-2018
Number of pages12
JournalAllergy
Volume78
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors. Allergy published by European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Funding

We thank Daniel Ebner, Thomas Schlederer, and Christian Harwanegg for excellent technical assistance regarding manufacturing of the customized allergen arrays which were made at Phadia Austria GmbH, Part of Thermo Fisher Scientific ImmunoDiagnostics, A-1220, Vienna, Austria. This paper is dedicated to Prof. Jean Bousquet for his amazing leadership in the MeDALL project. R.V. receives research grants from HVD Biotech, Vienna, Austria and Worg Pharmaceuticals, Hangzhou, China. He serves as consultant for Worg and Viravaxx AG, Vienna, Austria. MvH has received lecture fee from Thermo Fisher Scientific. GK has no conflict of interest to declare. CL and SW are currently employees of MacroArray Diagnostics GmbH, Vienna, Austria. JB reports personal fees from Cipla, Menarini, Mylan, Novartis, Purina, Sanofi‐Aventis, Teva, Uriach. He is shareholder of KYomed Innov and MASK‐air‐SAS. The rest of the authors report no conflict of interest. The study was supported by the European FP7‐program MeDALL, the Danube Allergy Research Cluster by the Country of Lower Austria, the Swedish Research Council, The Region Stockholm (ALF project), The Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association's Research Foundation, The Swedish Cancer and Allergy Foundation, The King Gustaf V 80th Birthday Foundation, The Swedish Heart‐Lung Foundation, The Hesselman Foundation, by the European Commission, by Mead Johnson, Evansville, Indiana, USA, by Nestle, Vevey, Vaud, Switzerland, by a Wellcome programme grant [WT223601/Z/21/Z: Age of Wonder, a UK Medical Research Council (MRC) and UK Economic and Social Science Research Council (ESRC) grant: MR/N02439/1 and by the special program (Programmi speciali‐Art. 12 bis, comma 6 D.lgs.229/99 Sanitaria e della Vigilanza sugli Enti)] funded by the Italian Ministry of Health.

FundersFunder number
Daniel Ebner
Danube Allergy Research Cluster
European FP7‐program MeDALL
HVD Biotech
Hesselman Foundation
Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association's Research Foundation
Swedish Cancer and Allergy Foundation
The King Gustaf V 80th Birthday Foundation
Thomas SchledererA-1220
Wellcome TrustWT223601/Z/21/Z
Medical Research Council
Economic and Social Research CouncilMR/N02439/1
European Commission
Ministero della Salute
Hjärt-Lungfonden
Vetenskapsrådet

    Keywords

    • Allergens
    • Exposome
    • Food Hypersensitivity
    • Hypersensitivity/diagnosis
    • Immunoglobulin E
    • Pollen

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