Journal of Asthma and Allergy (Feb 2022)

Hexamerin-2 Protein of Locust as a Novel Allergen in Occupational Allergy

  • Wang Y,
  • Zhang Y,
  • Lou H,
  • Wang C,
  • Ni M,
  • Yu D,
  • Zhang L,
  • Kang L

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 15
pp. 145 – 155

Abstract

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Yu Wang,1,2 Yuan Zhang,3 Hongfei Lou,3 Chengshuo Wang,3 Ming Ni,1 Dan Yu,4 Luo Zhang,3 Le Kang1,5 1College of Life Science, Institute of Life Sciences and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei Province, People’s Republic of China; 2College of Food Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing TongRen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 4State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, People’s Republic of China; 5Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, 510320, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Le KangCollege of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei Province, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]; Luo ZhangDepartment of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 17, Hougou Hutong, Dongcheng Beijing Institute of Otolaryngology, District, Beijing, 100730, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: Occupational exposure to locusts induces a high prevalence of allergic sensitization. However, knowledge on occupational locust allergens remains unclear.Objective: This study aimed to identify the allergens from locusts causing occupational allergies.Methods: We conducted a survey of 57 persons exposed to locusts using questionnaires and immunological tests for occupational allergies in long-term locust laboratories. The major allergen was identified by immunoblotting and analysed by mass spectrometry. The allergenicity of the allergen was assessed by sIgE detection, immunoblotting and ELISA inhibition assays.Results: The survey indicated that the frequency of locust occupational allergies was 40.4% among subjects exposed to locust. The symptoms in most males were allergic rhinitis, while females showed higher prevalence of atopic dermatitis. Occupational exposure increased the allergy risk. The recombinant hexamerin-2 protein possesses high allergenicity in the allergic exposure group. Hexamerin-2 protein can inhibit IgE reactivity with locust protein extracts by approximately 60%. The potential for cross-reactivity with cockroaches was indicated by sequence alignment of hexamerin-2 protein and allergens of cockroaches.Conclusion: The hexamerin-2 protein of locusts as an important allergen was identified. Therefore, occupational exposure is an important risk factor for locust allergy.Keywords: locust, Locusta migratoria, occupational allergy, hexamerin-2 protein, contact dermatitis, asthma

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