clear search
Search
Search Suggestions
Recent searches Clear History
Talk with Us
Allergen Encyclopedia
Table of Contents

Whole Allergen

w204 Sunflower

w204 Sunflower Scientific Information

Type:

Whole Allergen

Display Name:

Sunflower

Family:

Asteraceae (Compositae)

Latin Name:

Helianthus annuus

Other Names:

Sunflower, Common Sunflower

Summary

See also: Sunflower seed k84

Clinical Relevance

IgE-mediated reactions

Sunflower pollen is a cause of asthma, allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis, and is an important occupational allergen in areas where Sunflower is grown. (1-5)

Sunflower pollen is a particularly significant aeroallergen in Korea. (6) In the Ukrainain area, Kievites pollinosis (seasonal fever) in most cases is caused by Ambrosia, Sunflower and Dandelion pollen. (6)

A study describes a 24-yr-old man who developed rhinitis and conjunctivitis over 5 years of occupational exposure to Sunflower pollens, and asthma which developed during the fifth year. All respiratory and ocular symptoms disappeared after he was removed from exposure, but he had a food-allergic reaction while he was eating honey containing 30% Sunflower pollens. (7)

Sunflower pollen has high allergenic potential, especially from close contact in occupational settings. In a study of 102 individuals working in a Sunflower processing plant, 23.5% were found to be sensitised to Sunflower pollen. (8)

Other reactions

In the case of 23 patients allergic to honey, including Sunflower honey, with symptoms ranging from itching in the oral mucosa to severe systemic symptoms to anaphylactic shock, proteins derived from secretions of pharyngeal and salivary glands of honeybee heads, along with pollen proteins, were found in the honey. The former were responsible for causing specific allergic reactions to honey. (8) Some allergic symptoms may be due to the actual Sunflower pollen present in the honey. (9,10)

Although allergic symptoms and anaphylaxis can occur to Sunflower seeds (11) (see: Sunflower seed k84), occupational asthma may result from contact with Sunflower seed dust. This needs to be differentiated from Sunflower pollen, which contains different allergens. (12)

Molecular Aspects

Allergen Exposure

Four allergens have been detected in Sunflower pollen, with molecular masses of 32, 24, 55, and 55 kDa. Cross-reactivity among the four allergens was very high, and each allergen recognised IgE in a high proportion of patients sensitised to Sunflower pollen. (13)

Thirteen Sunflower-allergic patients with allergen-specific IgE values > or = 0.7 kUA/l showed 2 IgE-binding fractions at 34.0 and 42.8 kD in 65% of sera and 3 IgE-binding fractions at pI 4.9, 9.6 and 10.2 in 54% of sera. A 34-kD major allergen was purified. (1)

The following allergens have been characterised:

  • Hel a 1. (1, 14, 15)
  • Hel a 2, a profilin. ( 15-22)

Sunflower seed contains a 2S Albumin storage protein allergen, but this has not been detected in Sunflower pollen.

Cross Reactivity

An extensive cross-reactivity among the different individual species of the genus could be expected, as well as to a certain degree among members of the family Asteraceae (Compositae). (23)

Cross-reactivity has been demonstrated, by allergen-specific IgE and immunoblotting inhibition experiments, between Sunflower and other Asteraceae pollens: Mugwort, Marguerite, Dandelion, Golden Rod, and Short Ragweed. Mugwort pollen exhibited the greatest degree of cross-reactivity with Sunflower pollen, whereas at the other end of the spectrum, Short Ragweed showed less cross-reactivity. (24)

The major allergen Hel a 1 shows cross-reactivity with other aster members. (25)

Cross-reactivity with other non-Asteraceae plants can be expected, due to the presence of the panallergen profilin, Hel a 2. (16, 26, 27) Sunflower profilin is cross-reactive with profilins from Short ragweed, Mugwort, Olive, and Annual mercury. (25)

Sunflower pollen does not significantly cross-react with Sunflower seed. (28)

Compiled By

Last reviewed: May 2022

References
  1. Jiménez A, Moreno C, Martínez J, Martínez A, Bartolomé B, Guerra F, Palacios R. Sensitization to sunflower pollen: only an occupational allergy? Int Arch Allergy Immunol 1994;105(3):297-307.
  2. Nandakishore T, Pasricha JS. Pattern of cross-sensitivity between 4 Compositae plants, Parthenium hysterophorus, Xanthium strumarium, Helianthus annuus and Chrysanthemum coronarium, in Indian patients. Contact Dermatitis 1994;30(3):162-7.
  3. Wodehouse RP. Hayfever Plants, 2nd ed. New York, NY: Hafner; 1971:149-154.
  4. Weber RW. Sunflower. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2006;97(1):A6.
  5. Syhaieva IA. Efficiency of specific immunotherapy in treatment of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. [Ukrainian] Lik Sprava 2006;(1-2):51-3.
  6. Bousquet J, Dhivert H, Clauzel AM, Hewitt B, Michel FB. Occupational allergy to sunflower pollen. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1985;75(1 Pt 1):70-4.
  7. Atis S, Tutluoglu B, Sahin K, Yaman M, et al. Sensitization to sunflower pollen and lung functions in sunflower processing workers. Allergy 2002;57(1):35-9.
  8. Bauer L, Kohlich A, Hirschwehr R, Siemann U, Ebner H, Scheiner O, Kraft D, Ebner C. Food allergy to honey: pollen or bee products? Characterization of allergenic proteins in honey by means of immunoblotting. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1996;97(1 Pt 1):65-73.
  9. Florido-Lopez JF, Gonzalez-Delgado P, Saenz de San Pedro B, Perez-Miranda C, Arias de Saavedra JM, Marin-Pozo JF. Allergy to natural honeys and camomile tea. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 1995;108(2):170-4.
  10. Fuiano N, Incorvaia C, Riario-Sforza GG, Casino G. Anaphylaxis to honey in pollinosis to mugwort: a case report. Allerg Immunol (Paris) 2006;38(10):364-5.
  11. Kelly JD, Hefle SL. 2S methionine-rich protein (SSA) from sunflower seed is an IgE-binding protein. Allergy 2000;55(6):556-60.
  12. Vandenplas O, Vander Borght T, Delwiche JP. Occupational asthma caused by sunflower-seed dust. Allergy 1998;53(9):907-8.
  13. de la Hoz F, Melero JA, Gonzalez R, Carreira J. Isolation and partial characterization of allergens from Helianthus annuus (sunflower) pollen. Allergy 1994;49(10):848-54.
  14. de la Hoz F, Melero JA, Gonzalez R, Carreira J. Isolation and partial characterization of allergens from Helianthus annuus (sunflower) pollen. Allergy 1994;49(10):848-54.
  15. Mohapatra SS, Lockey RF, Polo F. Weed pollen allergens. Clin Allergy Immunol 2008;21:127-39.
  16. Asturias JA, Arilla MC, Gomez-Bayon N, Martinez A, Martinez J, Palacios R. Recombinant DNA technology in allergology: cloning and expression of plant profilins. Allergol Immunopathol (Madr) 1997;25(3):127-34.
  17. Diaz-Perales A, Tabar AI, Sanchez-Monge R, Garcia BE, Gomez B, Barber D, Salcedo G. Characterization of asparagus allergens: A relevant role of lipid transfer proteins. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2002;110(5):790-6.
  18. Rodriguez-Perez R, Crespo JF, Rodriguez J, Salcedo G. Profilin is a relevant melon allergen susceptible to pepsin digestion in patients with oral allergy syndrome. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2003;111(3):634-9.
  19. Martinez A, Asturias JA, Monteseirin J, Moreno V, Garcia-Cubillana A, Hernandez M, de la Calle A, Sanchez-Hernandez C, Perez-Formoso JL, Conde J. The allergenic relevance of profilin (Ole e 2) from Olea europaea pollen. Allergy 2002;57 Suppl 71:17-23.
  20. Asturias JA, Gomez-Bayon N, Arilla MC, Sanchez-Pulido L, Valencia A, Martinez A. Molecular and structural analysis of the panallergen profilin B cell epitopes defined by monoclonal antibodies. Int Immunol 2002;14(9):993-1001.
  21. Asturias JA, Arilla MC, Gomez-Bayon N, Aguirre M, Martinez A, Palacios R, Martinez J. Cloning and immunological characterization of the allergen Hel a 2 (profilin) from sunflower pollen. Mol Immunol 1998;35(8):469-78.
  22. Wopfner N, Gruber P, Wallner M, Briza P, Ebner C, Mari A, Richter K, Vogel L, Ferreira F.  Molecular and immunological characterization of novel weed pollen pan-allergens. Allergy 2008;63(7):872-81.
  23. Yman L. Botanical relations and immunological cross-reactions in pollen allergy. 2nd ed. Pharmacia Diagnostics AB. Uppsala. Sweden. 1982: ISBN 91-970475-09.
  24. Fernandez C, Martin-Esteban M, Fiandor A, Pascual C, Lopez Serrano C, Martinez Alzamora F, Diaz Pena JM, Ojeda Casas JA. Analysis of cross-reactivity between sunflower pollen and other pollens of the Compositae family. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1993;92(5):660-7.
  25. Weber RW. Cross-reactivity of pollen allergens: recommendations for immunotherapy vaccines. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 2005;5(6):563-9.
  26. Asturias JA, Arilla MC, Gomez-Bayon N, Martinez J, Martinez A, Palacios R. Cloning and high level expression of Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass) pollen profilin (Cyn d 12) in Escherichia coli: purification and characterization of the allergen. Clin Exp Allergy 1997;27(11):1307-13.
  27. Vallverdu A, Asturias JA, Arilla MC, Gomez-Bayon N, et al. Characterization of recombinant Mercurialis annua major allergen Mer a 1 (profilin). J Allergy Clin Immunol 1998;101(3):363-70.
  28. Park HS, Jung KS, Jee SY, Hong SH, Kim HY, Nahm DH. Are there any links between Hop Japanese pollen and other weed pollens or food allergens on skin prick tests? Allergy Asthma Proc 2001;22(1):43-6.