Japanese Cedar Pollen-Based Subcutaneous Immunotherapy Decreases Tomato Fruit-Specific Basophil Activation

Background: Some patients with Japanese cedar pollen (JCP)-induced allergic rhinitis develop pollen-food allergy syndrome (PFAS) as a reaction to tomato fruit. Pollen allergen-specific subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) is reportedly beneficial for some associated food allergies; however, the reported changes in food allergen-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E and IgG 4 levels are inconsistent. Here, we investigated immunologic reactivity to tomato fruit after JCPbased SCIT. Methods: Twenty-three children (aged 6–17 years) with JCP-induced allergic rhinitis and sensitized to tomato (serum tomato fruit-specific IgE level >0.34 UA/ml) received JCP-based SCIT. Basophil activation by tomato and JCP extracts and serum-specific IgE and IgG 4 levels against these allergens were determined before and after 4 or 5 months of maintenance SCIT. Basophil activation was assessed by monitoring CD203c upregulation on flow cytomReceived: August 13, 2014 Accepted after revision: July 1, 2015 Published online: August 18, 2015 Correspondence to: Dr. Chisato Inuo Department of Pediatrics, Fujita Health University 1–98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho Toyoake, Aichi 470–1192 (Japan) E-Mail inuo @ mbh.nifty.com © 2015 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel 1018–2438/15/1672–0137$39.50/0 www.karger.com/iaa Th is article is licensed under the Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BYNC-ND) (http://www.karger.com/Services/OpenAccessLicense). Usage and distribution for commercial purposes as well as any distribution of modifi ed material requires written permission. D w nl oa de d by : 54 .7 0. 40 .1 1 10 /3 /2 01 7 12 :1 1: 21 P M