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Allergy to human seminal fluid: Cross-reactivity with dog dander

2007; Elsevier BV; Volume: 121; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.jaci.2007.10.008

1097-6825

María Basagaña, Borja Bartolomé, Carlos Pastor‐Vargas, Ferrán Torres, Rosario Alonso, Fernando Vivanco, Anna Cisteró‐Bahíma,

Allergic Rhinitis and Sensitization

Human seminal plasma (HSP) allergy is uncommon, with symptoms ranging from vulvovaginal pruritus to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Although several seminal plasma allergens have been reported and their molecular masses have been estimated to range between 12 and 75 kd, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has recently been identified as a causative allergen. Given that in a large number of cases symptoms appeared during or after the first intercourse, a cross-reactivity phenomenon might be implicated.We sought to assess the presence of IgE cross-reactivity among proteins from dog epithelium and HSP and to attempt to identify the allergens involved.Forty-one patients with dog epithelium allergy were selected. One of them experienced anaphylaxis in contact with her husband's seminal plasma. Skin prick tests, serum specific IgE measurements, SDS-PAGE immunoblotting, and inhibition tests were performed to study the pattern of IgE-binding proteins and the potential cross-reactivity between HSP and dog epithelium. Mass spectrometry was carried out to identify the protein involved in allergy reactions.Twenty-four percent of the sera from patients with dog epithelium allergy recognized an IgE-binding band of 28 kd in HSP immunoblotting. Mass spectrometry identified this band as the PSA. SDS-PAGE immunoblotting-inhibition showed a complete IgE-binding inhibition when sera from these patients were preincubated with dog dander extract.IgE cross-reactivity among proteins from dog dander and human PSA is demonstrated.