Review
Dermatology
Soumya Reddy, Lauren Yi, Bridget Shields, Thomas Platts-Mills, Jeffrey Wilson, R. Hal Flowers
Summary: Alpha-gal syndrome is an allergy to red meat and other mammalian products caused by immunoglobulin E antibodies acquired after tick bites. It presents with symptoms such as urticaria, abdominal pain, and nausea, which can be easily mistaken for other causes of urticaria and anaphylaxis. Diagnosis is based on clinical history, positive alpha-gal IgE blood testing, and improvement on a restricted diet. Treatment involves avoiding mammalian meats and managing acute allergic symptoms.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Surendra Raj Sharma, Gary Crispell, Ahmed Mohamed, Cameron Cox, Joshua Lange, Shailesh Choudhary, Scott P. Commins, Shahid Karim
Summary: This study investigated the functional roles of tick enzymes ADGal and beta-1,4GalT in endogenous alpha-gal production, carbohydrate metabolism, and N-glycan profile in lone-star tick. The silence of ADGal led to downregulation of genes involved in galactose metabolism in tick, showing a significant reduction in alpha-gal levels in tick salivary glands. However, beta-1,4GalT-silenced tick salivary glands did not show significant difference in alpha-gal levels, providing insight into their roles in alpha-gal production and presentation in ticks and the probable involvement in the onset of AGS.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Surendra Raj Sharma, Shahid Karim
Summary: Ticks and tick-borne diseases pose significant public health concerns, with bioactive molecules in tick saliva facilitating the transmission of pathogens such as the alpha-gal antigen. Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), a newly reported food allergy, is characterized by IgE antibody-directed hypersensitivity against alpha-gal, a sugar molecule found in tick saliva. While the alpha-gal antigen has been identified in various tick species, the immune mechanisms linking tick bites to alpha-gal-specific IgE production remain poorly understood.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Sarah K. McGill, Jana G. Hashash, Thomas A. Platts-Mills
Summary: Alpha-gal syndrome is an emerging allergy that can cause anaphylaxis, gastrointestinal symptoms, and skin changes after ingestion of mammalian products. The purpose of this article is to increase awareness and provide guidance on the presentation and management of alpha-gal syndrome among gastroenterologists.
CLINICAL GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Maldonado-Ruiz L. Paulina, Gunavanthi D. D. Boorgula, Donghun Kim, Sherry D. D. Fleming, Yoonseong Park
Summary: Recent studies have provided strong evidence that lone star tick bites can cause red meat allergy in humans, transmitting the alpha-gal sensitizing agent aGal from nonhuman blood. This study used an alpha-galactosyltransferase knockout mutant mouse model to test the transmission hypothesis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Onyinye I. Iweala, Shailesh K. Choudhary, Claire T. Addison, Scott P. Commins
Summary: The immune gene expression profiles of individuals with AGS differ significantly from non-allergic controls, with key pathways involving the NF kappa B pathway, antigen presentation, and type 2 immune responses. Differential gene expression related to T and B cell function suggests certain genes may promote the production of alpha-gal specific IgE and the maintenance of AGS.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Shailesh K. Choudhary, Shahid Karim, Onyinye I. Iweala, Shivangi Choudhary, Gary Crispell, Surendra Raj Sharma, Claire T. Addison, Mike Kulis, Brian H. Herrin, Susan E. Little, Scott P. Commins
Summary: Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is characterized by delayed hypersensitivity to non-primate mammalian meat in individuals with specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE). Using AGKO mice model, researchers found that TSGE-sensitized AGKO mice produce sIgE to alpha-gal and display allergic responses to pork kidney and pork fat.
IMMUNITY INFLAMMATION AND DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Dermatology
Z. Dajnoki, O. Somogyi, B. Medgyesi, A. Jenei, L. Szabo, K. Gaspar, Z. Hendrik, P. Gergely, D. Imre, S. Poliska, D. Torocsik, C. C. Zouboulis, E. P. Prens, A. Kapitany, A. Szegedi
Summary: The study systematically investigated inflammatory molecules involved in three stages of HS pathogenesis, revealing that epidermal changes were already detectable in non-lesional HS skin, while inflammatory reactions were more prominent in lesional HS skin.
JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY AND VENEREOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Anesthesiology
Maziar M. Nourian, Cosby A. Stone, Kara K. Siegrist, Matthias L. Riess
Summary: Alpha Gal Syndrome (AGS) is an immune response to mammalian products (MP) containing the oligosaccharide galactose-alpha-1,3 galactose (alpha-Gal). This review discusses the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of AGS reactions, as well as strategies to screen and prevent exposure to MP. It is crucial for anesthesia providers to recognize the implications of MP exposure in AGS patients and prevent harm in this vulnerable population.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ANESTHESIA
(2023)
Article
Allergy
Alison M. Binder, Dena Cherry-Brown, Brad J. Biggerstaff, Emma S. Jones, Claire L. Amelio, Charles B. Beard, Lyle R. Petersen, Gilbert J. Kersh, Scott P. Commins, Paige A. Armstrong
Summary: This study reviewed the medical records of 100 AGS patients and found that most patients developed AGS after tick bites. Patients with reactions to dairy were more likely to experience gastrointestinal symptoms. Anaphylaxis was common among AGS patients, highlighting the need for increased awareness and attention among patients and healthcare providers.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Sarah K. McGill, Scott P. Commins, Anne F. Peery, Joseph Galanko, Temitope O. Keku, Nicholas J. Shaheen, Chelsea Anderson, Robert S. Sandler
Summary: A survey in the Southeastern US found that 31.4% of participants in a screening colonoscopy had elevated alpha-gal IgE antibody levels. Patients with elevated antibody levels did not experience more abdominal pain and their meat intake was not different from those without alpha-gal antibodies. These findings suggest that the phenotypic expression of alpha-gal syndrome may be influenced by other host factors.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Kasinath Kuravi, Lori T. Sorrells, Joseph R. Nellis, Farzana Rahman, Anneke H. Walters, Robert G. Matheny, Shailesh K. Choudhary, David L. Ayares, Scott P. Commins, John R. Bianchi, Joseph W. Turek
Summary: Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a rare allergy to red meat. This study found that alpha-gal can still be present in animal-derived medical products despite commercial decellularization processes, which could have serious implications for patients with AGS.
JOURNAL OF THORACIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Rita Vaz-Rodrigues, Lorena Mazuecos, Margarita Villar, Marinela Contreras, Sara Artigas-Jeronimo, Almudena Gonzalez-Garcia, Christian Gorazar, Jose de la Fuente
Summary: This study used a multi-omics approach to investigate the impact of tick saliva and mammalian meat consumption on the gut transcriptome and proteome of zebrafish. The results revealed significant changes in biological and metabolic pathways associated with the alpha-Gal syndrome. Tick saliva treatment was found to increase zebrafish mortality, allergic reactions, and changes in behavior and feeding patterns. The analysis of transcriptomics and proteomics data provided insights into the pathways involved in allergic reactions, cardiac and vascular function, and nervous and musculoskeletal disorders.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ivan Pacheco, Isabel G. Fernandez de Mera, Francisco Feo Brito, Elisa Gomez Torrijos, Margarita Villar, Marinela Contreras, Jose Francisco Lima-Barbero, Ernesto Doncel-Perez, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz, Christian Gortazar, Jose de la Fuente
Summary: Humans evolved by losing the ability to synthesize a certain sugar molecule, which led to the development of a protective response against pathogens with a specific protein modification, but also resulted in a newly diagnosed allergic disease related to mammalian meat consumption. Research found that patients with neurological disorders had significantly decreased antibody levels to the sugar molecule, while patients with tick-associated allergies did not show significant differences.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Julie M. Thompson, Ann Carpenter, Gilbert J. Kersh, Tyler Wachs, Scott P. Commins, Johanna S. Salzer
Summary: Alpha-gal syndrome is an emerging allergic condition associated with tick bites. It is characterized by a potentially life-threatening hypersensitivity to galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal), which is found in nonprimate mammalian meat and products. The study found that suspected cases of AGS predominantly occurred in counties within the southern, midwestern, and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. These findings highlight the need for surveillance and targeted public health outreach in high-risk areas.
MMWR-MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT
(2023)
Letter
Dermatology
E. Nakamura, Y. Majima, H. Hashizume, Y. Tokura, H. Nakano
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY
(2019)
Letter
Dermatology
Hidehiko Miyazawa, Takatoshi Shimauchi, Hideo Hashizume, Yurika Masuda, Masahiro Aoshima, Taisuke Ito, Yoshiki Tokura
JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Allergy
Emiko Noguchi, Masato Akiyama, Akiko Yagami, Tomomitsu Hirota, Yukinori Okada, Zenichiro Kato, Reiko Kishikawa, Yuma Fukutomi, Michihiro Hide, Eishin Morita, Michiko Aihara, Makiko Hiragun, Yuko Chinuki, Takahiro Okabe, Akiko Ito, Atsuko Adachi, Atsushi Fukunaga, Yumiko Kubota, Toshiyuki Aoki, Youko Aoki, Kazue Nishioka, Tetsuya Adachi, Nobuo Kanazawa, Hitoshi Miyazawa, Hiroyuki Sakai, Takehito Kozuka, Hideo Kitamura, Hideo Hashizume, Chiharu Kanegane, Koji Masuda, Kumiya Sugiyama, Reiko Tokuda, Junichi Furuta, Ikkou Higashimoto, Atsuko Kato, Mariko Seishima, Akihiko Tajiri, Atsuko Tomura, Hiroko Taniguchi, Hiroto Kojima, Hidenori Tanaka, Aiko Sakai, Wataru Morii, Masashi Nakamura, Yoichiro Kamatani, Atsushi Takahashi, Michiaki Kubo, Mayumi Tamari, Hirohisa Saito, Kayoko Matsunaga
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2019)
Meeting Abstract
Dermatology
T. Fujiyama, K. Kurihara, T. Umayahara, T. Ito, H. Hashizume, Y. Tokura
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Dermatology
Hideo Hashizume, Riichiro Abe, Hiroaki Azukizawa, Toshiharu Fujiyama, Natsumi Hama, Yoshiko Mizukawa, Eishin Morita, Yukinobu Nakagawa, Saeko Nakajima, Hiroyuki Niihara, Yuichi Teraki, Mikiko Tohyama, Hideaki Watanabe, Yoshiki Tokura
JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY
(2020)
Letter
Dermatology
Toshiharu Fujiyama, Takatsune Umayahara, Kazuo Kurihara, Takatoshi Shimauchi, Taisuke Ito, Masahiro Aoshima, Emiko Otobe, Hideo Hashizume, Hiroaki Yagi, Yoshiki Tokura
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2020)
Letter
Dermatology
H. Hashizume, Y. Sano, S. Furukawa, S. Imokawa
JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY AND VENEREOLOGY
(2020)
Letter
Dermatology
Hideo Hashizume, Toshiharu Fujiyama, Reiko Kageyama, Yasuhito Kaneko, Tomoyuki Sano, Tetsuya Honda
JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Dermatology
Hideo Hashizume, Yuto Ishikawa, Sayaka Ajima
Summary: Steroid pulse therapy for drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome/drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms carries risks of cytomegalovirus reactivation, persistency, and high mortality, compared to conventional treatment, while showing lower rates of herpesvirus 6 reactivation or type 1 diabetes. This suggests that the administration mode may differentially impact inflammatory responses and associated consequences. Based on the study findings, steroid pulse therapy should be avoided for these severe adverse reactions.
JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY
(2022)
Letter
Dermatology
H. Hashizume, S. Ajima, Y. Ishikawa
JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY AND VENEREOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Dermatology
Hideo Hashizume, Sayaka Ajima, Yuto Ishikawa
Summary: SARS-CoV-2 vaccination may trigger or worsen IgA vasculitis, particularly in female patients.
JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY
(2022)
Letter
Dermatology
Hideo Hashizume, Yuto Ishikawa, Sayaka Ajima
JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Dermatology
Sayaka Ajima, Yusuke Sano, Hideo Hashizume
Summary: A case of immediate hypersensitivity induced by ophthalmic administration of quinolones in a 20-year-old female with bacterial conjunctivitis is reported, with skin prick and basophil activation tests suggesting a type Ib reaction associated with Mas-related G-protein coupled receptor X2. This case serves as a caution to be aware of quinolone immediate hypersensitivity caused by topical ophthalmic preparations, which may predict severe hypersensitivity reactions to systemic administration.
JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY
(2021)
Letter
Allergy
Yasuhito Kaneko, Seiya Kitano, Takatsune Umayahara, Reiko Kageyama, Hideo Hashizume
JOURNAL OF CUTANEOUS IMMUNOLOGY AND ALLERGY
(2019)
