J Korean Med Sci.  2004 Dec;19(6):793-799. 10.3346/jkms.2004.19.6.793.

Common Whelk (Buccinum undatum)Allergy:Identification of IgE-binding Components and Effects of Heating and Digestive Enzymes

• Lee BJ
• Park HS

• KMID: 1778558
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2004.19.6.793

Abstract

In Korea, common whelk (Buccinum undatum) is a popular edible shellfish. The aim of this study was to observe the sensitization rate to common whelk and to characterize its allergens. We carried out skin prick test (SPT) in 1,700 patients with various allergic diseases. Specific IgE were detected by ELISA in the patient sera and ELISA inhibition tests were conducted. IgE-binding components were identified by means of SDS-PAGE and IgE-immunoblotting. The effects of diges-tive enzymes were evaluated in both raw and thermally treated extracts. SPT to common whelk was positive (> or =2+) in 83 (4.9%) patients studied. Twenty-four (38.7%) out of 62 SPT positive patients had high serum specific IgE to common whelk. ELISA inhibition test showed significant inhibitions by abalone as well as by common whelk. IgE-immunoblotting demonstrated three IgE-binding components (40, 71, 82 kDa), which were digested by simulated intestinal fluid and moderately digested by simulated gastric fluid, and the digestibility of allergens remained unchanged after thermal treatment. In conclusion, IgE-sensitization rate to com-mon whelk was 4.9% in allergy patients. IgE-immunoblotting demonstrated three IgE-binding components, which were degraded by digestive enzymes. Further studies are needed to evaluate the clinical significance of the sensitized patients to common whelk.

Keyword

Mollusca; Shellfish; Common Whelk; Food Hypersensitivity; Skin Tests; Digestion

MeSH Terms

Allergens/immunology
Animals
Comparative Study
Cookery
Digestion/*physiology
Food Handling/methods
Food Hypersensitivity/diagnosis/*epidemiology/*immunology/metabolism
Heat
Humans
Immunoglobulin E/*immunology/metabolism
Intestines/enzymology
Korea/epidemiology
*Mollusca
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Shellfish/*adverse effects
Skin Tests
Stomach/enzymology

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Serum specific IgE-bindings to common whelk by ELISA according to A/H ratio on skin prick test. Transverse dotted line indicate the cut-off value of positive specific IgE level which were derived from mean +3×S.D. of absorbance values of controls.

• 

  Fig. 2 Percent inhibitions of specific IgE-bindings to common whelk with serial additions of common whelk (▪), shrimp (▴), abalone (•), D. pteronyssinus (▵), and chestnut (○) extracts using pooled sera from three patients having high specific IgE to common whelk.

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  Fig. 3 SDS-PAGE and IgE-immunoblotting of the common whelk extract in sera of the sensitized patients. Lane M: molecular weight markers; Lane 1: SDS-PAGE of 10 µg/mL of the raw common whelk extracts; Lane 2-5: IgE-immunobloting in sera from the patients group; Lane 6 and 7: IgE-immunobloting in sera from normal control group; Lane 8: buffer control.

• 

  Fig. 4 SDS-PAGE of SGF treated raw and preheated common whelk extracts. (A) SDS-PAGE analysis of the SGF digestion of raw extract. Lane M: molecular weight markers; Lane 1-8: SGF digestion pattern at t=0, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 30, and 90 min. (B) SDS-PAGE analysis of the SGF digestion of preheated extract. Lane M: molecular weight markers; Lane 1-8: SGF digestion pattern at t=0, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 30, and 90 min.

• 

  Fig. 5 SDS-PAGE and IgE-immunoblotting of SGF treated raw and preheated common whelk extracts in sera of the sensitized patients. (A) SDS-PAGE analysis of the SGF treated extracts. Lane M: molecular weight markers; Lane 1-3: SGF digestion pattern of raw extract at t=0, 0.5 and 60 min; Lane 4-6: SGF digestion pattern of preheated extract at t=0, 0.5 and 60 min. (B) IgE-immunoblotting of the SGF treated extracts. Lane M: molecular weight markers; Lane 1-3: IgE-immunoblotting of raw extract at t=0, 0.5 and 60 min; Lane 4-6: IgE-immunoblotting of preheated extract at t=0, 0.5 and 60 min.

• 

  Fig. 6 SDS-PAGE and IgE-immunoblotting of SIF treated raw and preheated common whelk extracts in sera of the sensitized patients. (A) SDS-PAGE analysis of the SIF treated extracts. Lane M: molecular weight markers; Lane 1: SIF; Lane 2: SIF untreated raw extract; Lane 3-5: SIF digestion pattern of raw extract at t=1, 90 and 240 min; Lane 6: SIF untreated preheated extract; Lane 7-9: SIF digestion pattern of preheated extract at t=1, 90 and 240 min. (B) IgE-immunoblotting of the SIF treated extracts. Lane M: molecular weight markers; Lane 1: SIF; Lane 2: SIF untreated raw extract; Lane 3-5: SIF digestion pattern of raw extract at t=1, 90 and 240 min; Lane 6: SIF untreated preheated extract; Lane 7-9: SIF digestion pattern of preheated extract at t=1, 90 and 240 min.

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