Molecular allergology
Molecular allergology represents an innovative method that has revolutionised the approach to allergology diagnostics. It is based on the identification of multiple protein molecules that operate as allergenic determinants rather than traditional allergenic sources, such as plant foods, animals, etc.
It makes it possible to identify IgE produced in response to different antigenic molecules, to appreciate the different responses determined by the genetic make-up of each individual, and to highlight cross-reactivities determined by similar or the same traits of molecules.
Unlike traditional allergology that uses unpurified allergens, molecular allergology uses highly purified molecular allergens for a more advanced allergological diagnosis.
A few examples can clarify the concept
A peach allergy, for example, can be determined by three different allergenic proteins, but not all peach allergy sufferers produce IgE against all three proteins. Molecular allergy diagnosis allows one to ascertain the antibody response to the three different allergenic molecules as opposed to the traditional diagnosis that only captures an indistinct allergic response.
One therefore speaks of cross-reactivity with other molecules of the same family: subjects allergic to LPT proteins, due to the thermo- and gastro-stability of the molecules, cannot eat peaches either raw or cooked, whereas subjects allergic to Profilins and/or PR-10 can eat jam and peach juice, as the proteins have been neutralised by the heat of production processes and digestive enzymes. In this case, other foods containing LPTs that could trigger systemic adverse reactions should also be excluded.
Molecular allergy diagnostics can therefore be useful to confirm specific diagnostic suspicions by searching for the allergenic molecules involved or in cases where it is important to determine detailed individual allergological profiles. This is possible thanks to microarray technology that detects IgE against 112 allergenic molecules, 43 of which are food-related, in a single session.
Due to the small amount of serum required for the study, even children can undergo the test.
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