Identification of New Potential Allergens from Green-lipped Mussel (Perna Canaliculus)

  • Paula Kage Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, UMC Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
  • Kristin Schubert Department of Molecular Systems Biology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany
  • Regina Treudler Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, UMC Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
  • Jan-Christoph Simon Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, UMC Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
  • Martin von Bergen Department of Molecular Systems Biology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany
  • Janina Tomm Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, UMC Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
Keywords: Anaphylaxis; Electrophoresis; IgE; Immunoblotting; Mussel

Abstract

The green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) originates from New Zealand. To preserve the health benefits of green-lipped mussel meat, it is freeze-dried to make a long-lasting powder. The powder is used to treat arthritis because of its potential anti-inflammatory properties. The report describes a 54-year-old woman who developed immediate rhinoconjunctival and respiratory symptoms after inhaling green-lipped mussel powder she gave to her dog for arthritis.

A skin prick test with green-lipped mussel powder was performed. Protein extracts from P canaliculus were separated by sodium dodecyl–sulfate polyacrylamide (SDS) gel electrophoresis and probed with serum from patients and serum preincubated with green-lipped mussel extract. Bound immunoglobulin E (IgE) was detected by specific anti-human-IgE antibodies, and IgE-binding proteins were subsequently identified by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry.

The skin prick test was positive for green-lipped mussel. Specific IgE against green-lipped mussel extract was detected using Western immunoblotting. These potential allergenic proteins were identified by mass spectrometry as actin, tropomyosin, and paramyosin.

All three allergens are reported for the first time for P canaliculus. Actin is a major allergen in
Paphia textile, paramyosin in Sarcoptes scarbiei, and tropomyosin in Haliotis discus. For all IgE-binding proteins, the software AllCatPro predicted high allergenicity, supporting our conclusion that these proteins from P canaliculus may also be allergenic. The identification of allergens from P canaliculus provides the opportunity for specific tests to assess the frequency of allergic reactions to P canaliculus.

Published
2023-01-01
Section
Articles