Characterization of Pana g 1, an important cause of pollen-food allergy syndrome from Korean ginseng, Panax ginseng

TL;DR

This study identifies Pana g 1 as a key allergen in Korean ginseng that causes pollen-food allergy syndrome and develops methods to detect and quantify it.

Contribution

The study identifies and characterizes Pana g 1, a major allergen in Korean ginseng, and develops diagnostic and quantification methods for it.

Findings

Pana g 1, a PR-10 protein, was identified as the major PFAS-causative allergen in Korean ginseng.

Recombinant Pana g 1 was recognized by 4 out of 5 patients and showed cross-reactivity with Que ac 1.

Quantification methods using ELISA and MRM confirmed Pana g 1 levels in ginseng extract.

Abstract

Ginseng is a widely consumed herbal supplement. However, ginseng, especially raw ginseng, can cause allergic reactions, including pollen-food allergy syndrome (PFAS). This study aimed to identify the PFAS-causative allergen in Korean ginseng and to establish methods for its quantification.

Candidate allergens were screened using genomic and transcriptomic analyses. Proteomic profiling with patient sera was performed to identify the clinically relevant allergen. A recombinant protein was generated, and its allergenicity compared with the primary sensitizer, Que ac 1, by ELISA. A two-site ELISA was developed for the quantification of the ginseng allergen using monoclonal antibodies against recombinant protein. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mass spectrometry was applied for validation.

Genome and transcriptome analysis identified 4 candidate allergens: pathogenesis-related 10 (PR-10) protein, profilin, non-specific lipid transfer protein (nsLTP), and thaumatin-like protein. Among these, PR-10 (designated Pana g 1) was the sole allergen detected by proteomic analysis. Recombinant Pana g 1 was recognized by 4 of 5 patients. Inhibition ELISA showed stronger IgE reactivity to Que ac 1 than to Pana g 1, with marked cross-reactivity between the 2. Pana g 1 levels in ginseng extract were quantified as 4.26 μg/mg of protein by ELISA and 4.54 μg/mg by MRM in the ginseng extract.

Pana g 1 is the major PFAS-causative allergen in Korean ginseng. Recombinant Pana g 1 shows promise as a diagnostic tool for ginseng-induced PFAS. The quantification systems established here may also support standardization of ginseng extracts and allergen monitoring.

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