Immunological characterization of onion (Allium cepa) allergy

Marcello Albanesi; Carlo Pasculli; Lucia Giliberti; Maria Pia Rossi; Danilo Di Bona; Maria Filomena Caiaffa; Luigi Macchia

doi:10.5114/ada.2019.82829

eISSN: 2299-0046
ISSN: 1642-395X

Advances in Dermatology and Allergology/Postępy Dermatologii i Alergologii

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1/2019
vol. 36

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abstract:

Research paper

Immunological characterization of onion (Allium cepa) allergy

Marcello Albanesi

,

Carlo Pasculli

,

Lucia Giliberti

,

Maria Pia Rossi

,

Danilo Di Bona

,

Maria Filomena Caiaffa

,

Luigi Macchia

Adv Dermatol Allergol 2019; XXXVI (1): 98-103

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/ada.2019.82829

Online publish date: 2019/02/22

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Introduction
Onion (Allium cepa) handling can induce contact dermatitis, rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma. However, only sporadic reports exist on allergic reactions to onion consumption.

Aim
We describe herein a case of a 35-year-old man who had an episode of anaphylaxis following cooked onion ingestion. We evaluated onion-specific IgE, the possible cross-reactivity between onion and peach and lymphocyte proliferation in response to onion.

Material and methods
Specific IgE was evaluated using two techniques: skin test and Immun^oCAP technology. Cross-reactivity between onion and peach was evaluated by IgE-ELISA inhibition test. As for lymphocyte proliferation, blood mononuclear cells were stained with CFSE dye and cultured with an in-house onion extract. Proliferation and phenotype was assessed by flow-cytometry.

Results
The skin test and Immun^oCAP confirmed the IgE-dependent response towards onion. The incubation of the patient serum with increasing concentrations of the peach extract reduced only scarcely (~30%) onion-specific IgE. Interestingly, B cells but not T cells showed proliferation in response to onion extract.

Conclusions
In conclusion, our report shows that cooked onion can induce severe allergic reactions, suggesting the presence of thermostable components. Moreover, we applied for the first time a B-cell-based approach to the diagnosis of food allergy. This latter approach might also be applied to other allergic conditions.

keywords:

Immunological characterization of onion (Allium cepa) allergy

Marcello Albanesi , Carlo Pasculli , Lucia Giliberti , Maria Pia Rossi , Danilo Di Bona , Maria Filomena Caiaffa , Luigi Macchia

food allergy, onion allergy, lymphocyte proliferation, IgE-ELISA inhibition, lipid transfer proteins

Marcello Albanesi

,

Carlo Pasculli

,

Lucia Giliberti

,

Maria Pia Rossi

,

Danilo Di Bona

,

Maria Filomena Caiaffa

,

Luigi Macchia