Gene expression profiling of patients with allergy to latex and/or vegetable food - GSE13619

The aims of this study were to identify candidate genes that may be associated with the pathogenesis of allergy to latex and /or vegetable food, and to assess if similar molecular pathways are involved in both types of hypersensitivity.

As latex and vegetable food allergens cross-react, it could be hypothesized that similar pathways are involved in both types of hypersensitivity.

For this purpose, patients allergic to latex (n=6), allergic to vegetable food (n=5), or suffering from latex-fruit syndrome (n=6) were enrolled from the Unit of Allergy of the Gemelli Hospital of Rome. Moreover, 4 healthy volunteers were added to this study. Five ml of blood were harvested from each individual, and PBMCs were isolated on ficoll gradient. Following sample preparation (as recommended by the manufacturer), each sample was hybridized on Affymetrix human focus array. Data were processed with Affymetrix MAS 5.0 software and averaged intensity of signals from biological replicates were calculated for further analysis.

Type of allergy

Healthy volunteers

DNA microarray analysis was performed to screen the molecular profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from patients with allergy to latex, to fruit, or with latex-fruit syndrome, and from control healthy subjects.

The prevalence of individuals allergic to latex, exhibiting cross-hypersensitivity with plant-derived food has been frequently reported as the so-called latex-fruit syndrome. Nonetheless, molecular mechanisms underlying allergy to latex and/or fruit are poorly understood