Molecular and Immunological Identification of Low Allergenic Fruits among Old and New Apple Varieties

• Main Authors: Aleksandra Siekierzynska, Dorota Piasecka-Kwiatkowska, Wojciech Litwinczuk, Marta Burzynska, Aleksander Myszka, Pawel Karpinski, Elzbieta Zygala, Narcyz Piorecki, Ewa Springer, Tomasz Sozanski
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-03-01
• Series: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Subjects: apple allergy; Mal d 1; gene expression; immunoreactivity; old apple varieties; hypoallergenic
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/7/3527
• ISSN: 1661-6596; 1422-0067

About 50–70% of patients allergic to birch pollen suffer from sensitization after apple ingestion. Apple allergenicity was established in only few varieties. Studies were performed on apple fruits of 21 traditional and nine modern varieties organically, intensively, or integratively produced. The aim of the study was to assess whether the factors like cultivation method, maturity stage, genotype, or type of tissue place an impact on the allergenic potential of apples. To answer these questions, we used semiquantitative real-time PCR, ELISA, and immunoblotting. Apple allergen genes present divergent expression across apple cultivars. Expression of the <i>Mal d 1.06A</i> correlates with the Mal d 1 level and is affected by the cultivation method and maturity of the fruit. The content of the main allergen Mal d 1 varied widely across cultivars. Interestingly, in our study, the Gala variety presented a low Mal d 1 concentration regardless of the cultivation method. Based on the <i>Mal d 1.06A</i> expression, the Mal d 1 protein content, and the immunoreactivity assay, the Kandil Sinap, Kosztela, Rumianka from Alma-Ata, Kantówka Gdańska, Reinette Coulon, and Gala cultivars emerged as potentially hypoallergenic apple cultivars. Our study allowed distinguishing between potentially low, medium, and highly allergenic varieties.