Japanese Cedar Pollen-Specific IgA in Nasal Secretions and Nasal Allergy Symptoms

IgA-dependent degranulation of eosinophils and positive correlation between IgA and eosinophil cytotoxic protein levels in nasal secretions have been reported. However, the association between IgA and allergic reactions remains unclear. Therefore, we evaluated the changes in Japanese cedar-specific IgA levels and allergy symptoms after Japanese cedar pollen scattering in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals sensitized to Japanese cedar pollen.

Nasal secretion and serum samples were collected from 31 participants (21 symptomatic and 10 asymptomatic participants) in January (preseason) and March (peak season). Japanese cedar-specific IgA or IgE levels were measured using ELISA with diamond-like carbon-coated chips.

The ratio of Japanese cedar pollen-specific IgA to total IgA (rIgA) in the nasal secretions of symptomatic participants increased significantly in March compared with that in January ( P < .01); however, the ratio of specific IgE to total IgE (rIgE) in nasal secretions did not. rIgA in nasal secretions among asymptomatic participants also did not increase during pollen season. rIgA in nasal secretions was significantly correlated with nasal allergic symptoms (r = 0.82; P < .0001) with no significant correlation between rIgE and symptoms.

To our knowledge, this is the first study to show an association between nasal symptoms and rIgA in nasal secretions, suggesting that rIgA is useful as an antigen-specific biomarker for allergic rhinitis or pollinosis. Furthermore, rIgA values in nasal secretions do not increase in asymptomatic participants sensitized to Japanese cedar during the pollen season.