Background: Grasses belong to major sources of inhaled allergens. The knowledge of particular molecules responsible for hypersensitivity is of crucial importance for better understanding of individual differences among single allergic subjects and allergic populations living in various world-areas.
Methods: Specific-IgE-antibodies against Phl p 1, Phl p 5, Phl p 7, Phl p 12 were detected in a group of 130 Phleum-allergic-subjects (82 children, 48 adults).
Results: Phl p 1 antibodies were detected in most pediatric and adult patients, however, the children were associated with higher RAST classes more often. Anti-Phl p 5-antibodies were found more frequently in adults. An increase was observed in the number of pediatric patients reacting to Phl p 7 and Phl p 12. There were no differences in concentrations of specific-IgE against Phl p 5, Phl p 7 and Phl p 12 depending on age. Almost 10% of allergic children produced antibodies directed exclusively against minor allergens or did not produce specific-IgE-antibodies against tested molecules. Part of the patients reacted to profilin and calcium-binding protein originating from only one source (Phl p 12/Bet v 2 and Phl p 7/Bet v 4).
Conclusions: Antibodies against Phl p 1 and Phl p 5 can be used as a marker of allergy to grasses in adult patients. Children reacted exclusively to minor allergens more frequently than adults. Prolonged allergen exposure is evidently necessary to induce sensitization to Phl p 5. A high level of homology between profilins and calcium-binding proteins enables only one allergen to be used for diagnostic purposes but a possibility of a reaction to species-bound epitopes should be taken into account.