• C Hamsten, M Starkhammar, T A T Tran, M Johansson, U Bengtsson, G Ahlén, M Sällberg, H Grönlund, and M van Hage.
• Department of Medicine Solna, Clinical Immunology and Allergy Unit, Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.
• Allergy. 2013 Apr 1; 68 (4): 549-52.

AbstractPatients with IgE antibodies against the carbohydrate epitope galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-Gal) have reported severe allergic reactions after consumption of red meat. Investigations have revealed associations between IgE to α-Gal and tick bites. We provide the first direct evidence that α-Gal is present within ticks thus potentially explaining the relationship between tick exposure and sensitization to α-Gal, with development of red meat allergy as a secondary phenomena. Serum from Swedish patients with delayed severe reactions to red meat was included in the study. A dose-dependent inhibition of IgE responses to α-Gal by the tick Ixodes ricinus is demonstrated. Furthermore, using cryostat-cut sections of I. ricinus, we show that both a monoclonal and a polyclonal antibody against α-Gal stains the gastrointestinal tract of the tick. The same pattern is seen when staining with patient sera IgE positive to α-Gal. These results confirm that the α-Gal epitope is present in I. ricinus and imply host exposure to α-Gal during a tick bite. This provides further evidence that tick bites are associated with IgE responses to α-Gal and red meat allergy.© 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

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