β-1,3-glucanase rOle e 9 and MnSOD rAsp f 6 IgE reactivity are the signature of atopic dermatitis in the Mediterranean area

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) represents a chronic skin disorder seriously affecting patients' QoL and is often associated with immunological imbalance, disorders of the skin barrier function and environmental factors.

Objective: We extensively studied the proteomic IgE sensitization profile in a large AD Mediterranean cohort.

Methods: A total of 588 individuals with moderate-severe (70.6%) or mild and/or history of (29.4%) AD were evaluated in comparison to 1285 unselected atopic controls (AC) with a history of adverse reactions to foods, allergic rhinitis and/or bronchial asthma by means of ImmunoCAP ISAC₁₁₂ ® and Allergy Explorer-ALEX® microarray analysis.

Results: The olive tree pollen β-1,3-glucanase rOle e 9 and the manganese superoxide dismutase from Aspergillus rAsp f 6 were the molecules most significantly associated with AD occurrence and allowed to discriminate among the moderate and severe forms of disease. An IgE hyper-reactivity to cypress, grasses, olive tree, house dust mites (including rDer p 11), and to all cross-reactive components except profilin and polcalcin was observed. About 60% of adults with severe AD were sensitized to nsLTPs. Cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCDs) IgE was found in about one-third of AD participants. Hen eggs nGal d 1 IgE sensitization was more prevalent in the paediatric population, whilst rAsp f 6 and rOle e 9 reactivity was found particularly in older patients. Despite the status of widespread IgE sensitization to both environmental and food allergens, a reduced frequency of patient-reported severe reactions to food or of asthma was observed in AD patients compared to AC, particularly in case of concomitant Ole e 9 reactivity.

Conclusion and clinical relevance: Testing IgE reactivity to a large panel of molecular components unveils important associations between IgE reactivity profiles and AD clinical presentation, highlights the allergens useful for a precise AD signature and allows the detection of interesting sensitisations patterns.