Collagen-An Important Fish Allergen for Improved Diagnosis

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Allergology
• Food Science

Background:

• Fish collagen is extensively used in various industries but its role as a clinical allergen is underestimated.
• Collagen's insolubility limits its presence in standard allergy diagnostic tests, potentially leading to underdiagnosis of fish allergy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the clinical relevance of fish collagen as an allergen in a cohort of 101 fish-allergic individuals.
• To investigate IgE sensitization and reactivity to fish collagen.

Main Methods:

• Acid-soluble type I collagen was extracted from Atlantic salmon, barramundi, and yellowfin tuna.
• Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and rat basophil leukemia (RBL) assays were used to analyze IgE binding and cross-linking.
• Mass spectrometry confirmed protein identities, and allergen registration was performed.

Main Results:

• Twenty-one percent (21%) of fish-allergic patients showed sensitization to fish collagen.
• Collagen-induced IgE cross-linking was confirmed through RBL and basophil activation tests.
• Collagen type I alpha chains from barramundi and salmon were registered as Lat c 6 and Sal s 6.

Conclusions:

• Fish collagen demonstrates IgE sensitization and cross-linking capacity in allergic patients.
• Incorporating fish collagen into diagnostic testing is crucial for accurate fish allergy diagnosis.