The objective of the study was to use microarray approach to study the major causes of allergic diseases in Mediterranean countries, the olive pollen response, in order to find differential molecular markers among five clinical groups, Non-allergic, Asymptomatic, Allergic but not to olive pollen, Non-treated, olive pollen allergic patients and Olive pollen allergic patients (under specific-immunotherapy).

The study population comprised 28 subjects, selected from a previous immunological study (Aguerri et al. Eur. J. Inflammation 2012, in press), from Andalusia, who were recruited in 2 olive pollen exposure situations: during (April-June) and outside the pollen season (October-December).

Olive pollen allergy

6 non-allergic subjects

PBMC from the 5 groups, and 6 subjects from each group, were selected for gene-expression analysis: Group 1, non-allergic subjects; Group 2, asymptomatic subjects (diagnosed with olive pollen allergy by skin testing, with no seasonal respiratory symptoms [rhinitis and/or asthma], and who consulted for adverse reaction to drugs); Group 3, patients who were allergic, but not to olive pollen; Group 4, non-treated olive pollen–allergic; and Group 5, olive pollen–allergic patients (receiving olive pollen–specific immunotherapy).