Ragweed pollen is highly allergenic and elicits type I hypersensitivity reactions in the exposed populations. Amb a 11 is a recently discovered component of this pollen, and its biological role in allergy is still being researched. In our study, ragweed allergy patients were recruited prospectively over a three-year period; a comprehensive questionnaire was administered, and sera were collected and stored. The production of recombinant Amb a 11 was achieved in parallel with patients' recruitment. The gene coding for mature protein was inserted in E. coli and in Sf9 Spodoptera frugiperda cells. The recombinant allergens (designated eAmb a 11 and iAmb a 11) were tested for His-tag presence in Western blot. IgE reactivity was evaluated in 150 patients' sera for both recombinant allergen forms in ELISA, with 5 positive sera being tested further by hRBL (humanized rat basophilic leukemia) hexosaminidase release assay. Both allergen forms were proven to be IgE-reactive His-tagged proteins, with an extensive overlap of positive sera (92 toward the former recombinant allergen, 100 toward the latter) and an overall Amb a 11 sensitization prevalence estimated at 68.67%. The hRBL mediator release assay revealed a significant, slightly weaker effect of recombinant allergens when compared with nAmb a 1. Sensitization to this major allergen appears to be associated with more severe asthma symptoms (OR = 4.71, 95% CI = 1.81-12.21). In conclusion, recombinant Amb a 11 is a bona fide allergen, which is IgE-reactive and an inducer of hRBL degranulation. It is an important IgE-reactive component from ragweed pollen, with high IgE sensitization prevalence in the sample population and allergenicity of the recombinant allergen comparable to Amb a 1.
Keywords: ELISA; RBL assay; clinical features; recombinant Amb a 11.