Assessing Allergenicity of Different Tomato Ecotypes by Using Pooled Sera of Allergic Subjects:Identification of the Main Allergens

An evaluation of the potential allergenicity of diVerent tomato ecotypes is reported. Twelve tomato ecotypes were assessed through a proteomic approach, using pools of sera of allergic patients from two diVerent regions (Emilia Romagna in Northern Italy and Campania in Southern Italy), in order to identify the major allergens and evaluate diVerences in IgE binding properties of the tomato cultivars. Pooled sera of allergic people from Emilia Romagna showed as the main allergen a suberizationassociated anionic peroxidase, whereas pooled sera of allergic patients from Campania were mostly reactive to proWlin. The two proteins were identiWed through a proteomic approach based on the use of high-resolution mass spectrometric techniques. Quite interestingly, in some cases, several ecotypes showed a less reactivity toward patients’ sera than other, potentially indicating the possibility to identify ipoallergenic varieties. Anyway, the allergenic pattern response to tomatoes was serum-speciWc, indicating that the allergenic properties of diVerent tomato ecotypes are deWned by the speciWc proteins to which the patient is sensitized, a strong indication that ipoallergenicity of the diVerent ecotypes is possible, but mostly related to the individual susceptibility.