Enzyme allergy

Hochman N, Ehrlich J, Zakay-Rones Z (1989) Oral cavity herpes simplex virus - a risk factor to dental personnel and patients (an overview). Isr J Dent Sci 2 2158-2161 Hytonen M, Vanhanen M, Keskinen H, Tuomi T, Tupasela O, Nordman H (1994) Pharyngeal edema caused by occupational exposure to ceUulase enzyme. Allergy 49 782-784 Kanerva L, Estlander T, Jolanki R, Pekkarinen E (1992) Occupational pharyngitis associated with allergic patch test reactions from acrylics. Allergy 47 571-573... 

Schirmer et al. (1987) described one baker with dermatitis. He had positive skin-prick tests to a-amylase and various bread improvers. The immediate test reaction to a-amylase persisted for 48 h. A patch test with a-amylase was also positive, as well as radioallergosorbent test (RAST) to a-amylase, malt and bread improvers. We had a patient with occupational allergic contact urticaria from fungal but not bacterial a-amylase (Kanerva et al. 1997). Accordingly, enzymes with the same function and the same name may have different antigenic characteristics. When reporting about enzyme allergy, it is important to reveal details of the causative enzymes. 

When evaluating allergy caused by enzymes, it should be remembered that commercial enzymes are crude products which may contain remnants of the growth material and the micro-organism used for fermentation. They may also contain preservatives, e.g., benzoates, sorbates and parabens, in addition to the main enzyme (Pariza and Foster 1983 Tiikkainen et al. 1996), and other enzymes produced by the microbes (Vanhanen et al. 1994). These additional compounds may in some cases be the cause of enzyme allergy (Tarvainen et al. 1991b Tiikkainen et al. 1996). 

Vanhanen M, Tuomi T, Nordman H, Tupasela O, Holmberg PC, Miettinen M, Mutanen P, Leisola M (1997) Sensitization to industrial enzymes in enzyme research and production. Scand J Work Environ Health 23 385-391 Vanhanen M, Tuomi T, Tiikkainen U, Tupasela O, Voutilainen R, Nordman H. The risk of enzyme allergy in the detergent industry. Occup Environ Med (in press). 

Vanhanen M, Tuomi T, Tiikkainen U, Tupasela O, Voutilainen R, Nordman H. The risk of enzyme allergy in the detergent industry. Occup Environ Med (in press)... 

McAlexander L, Sinha T, et al Dipeptidyl peptidase IV deficiency increases susceptibifity to angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibitor-induced peritracheal edema. J Allergy Chn Immunol 2007 120 403-408. 

Stumpf JL. Shehab N. Patel AC Safety of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in patients with insect venom allergies. Ann Pharmacother 2006 40 699-703. 

IgE allergies can be detected in two different ways. The more modern is the radio aller go sorbent test (RAST). Here, a small sample of the patient s blood is collected and the serum is tested for the binding of IgE to food protein bound to a solid matrix using radiolabelled or enzyme-linked antihuman IgE. 

Schweigert, M.K., Mackenzie, D.P., and Sarlo, K., Occupational asthma and allergy associated with the use of enzymes in the detergent industry a review of the epidemiology, toxicology and methods of prevention, Clin Exp Allergy, 30, 1511, 2000. 

Quirce, S., Cuevas, M., Dfez-Gomez, M. L., Fernandez-Rivas, M., Hinojosa, M., Gonzalez, R., and Losada, E. (1992). Respiratory allergy to Aspergillus-devived enzymes in bakers asthma. /. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 90, 970-978. 

Quirce, S., Fernandez-Nieto, M., Bartolome, B., Bombin, C., Cuevas, M., and Sastre, J. (2002). Glucoamylase Another fungal enzyme associated with baker s asthma. Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol. 89,197-202. 

Tarvainen, K., Kanerva, L., Tupasela, O., Grenquist-Norden, B., Jolanki, R., Estlander, T., and Keskinen, H. (1991). Allergy from cellulose and xylanase enzymes. Clin. Exp. Allergy 21, 609-615. 

An important example of PLP-dependent amino acid decarboxylation is the conversion of histidine into histamine. Histamine is often involved in human allergic responses, e.g. to insect bites or pollens. Stress stimulates the action of the enzyme histidine decarboxylase and histamine is released from mast cells. Topical antihistamine creams are valuable for pain relief, and oral antihistamines are widely prescribed for nasal allergies such as hay fever. Major effects of histamine include dilation of blood vessels, inflammation and swelling of tissues, and narrowing of airways. In serious cases, life-threatening anaphylactic shock may occur, caused by a dramatic fall in blood pressure. 

Lee, B.-J., and Park, H.-S. (2004). Common whelk (Buccinum undatum) allergy Identification of IgE-binding components and effects of heating and digestive enzymes. /. Korean Med. Sci. 19, 793-799. 

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